WASHINGTON — A pro-democracy organization warned Monday that misinformation and violent rhetoric could make the weeks after Election Day particularly busy, pushing the country beyond the upheaval that occurred four years ago during the last presidential transition .

The comments from three members of the Defend Democracy Project came just days before voting ended on November 5, but with several extremely close elections, the country may not know for several days who won the presidential election as well as control of Congress.

That could leave considerable room for speculation as state election officials count mail-in ballots and could eventually undertake a full recount, as they did four years ago.

“I think the biggest vulnerability will continue to be disinformation that happens in the aftermath of the election,” said Olivia Troye, who previously worked for Vice President Mike Pence as special adviser for homeland security and counterterrorism. terrorism.

Troye raised concerns that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump could make false claims about election fraud and encourage violence similar to that which took place on January 6, 2021, if he loses the electoral college again.

Troye referred to a election ballot of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, she warned that “candidates, elected officials, election workers, members of the media, judges involved in these cases” could all become targets of post-election violence.

“And they are also concerned about visible attacks and violence against polling places or ballot boxes,” Troye said, referring to the burning of ballots in boxes at Oregon And Washington says early Monday morning.

Michael Podhorzer, president of the Defend Democracy Project, said during the virtual briefing for reporters that one reason many state officials have not acceded to demands to “find votes” for Trump in the days after the 2020 election was because President Joe Biden had “two states to spare.”

“And that created a prisoner’s dilemma for any Republican election official who might have done the wrong thing,” Podhorzer said. “So if you call (Georgia Secretary of State) Brad Raffensperger, he understood that even if he managed to get the votes Trump wanted, unless two Democratic secretaries of state overturned their results, Donald Trump would not return to the White House.

“And that meant there wasn’t a single actor, as was the case in 2000 in Florida, who could actually change the election results.”

It could be different this time, if Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris wins by a small margin, potentially a single state’s Electoral College votes, he said.

Accept the results

The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research published a investigation As of Monday, 86% of registered voters say whoever loses the presidential election should accept the results, although only 33% expect Trump to concede if he fails to secure the votes needed to win the Electoral College .

About 77% of those surveyed expected Harris to accept the results if she lost the presidential race.

Anxiety about post-election violence was quite high among registered voters surveyed, with 76% saying they were extremely or somewhat concerned about violent attempts to overturn election results.

Eighty-two percent said they were at least somewhat concerned about “increasing political violence directed against political figures or election officials.”

Voters are also concerned about foreign interference in elections, with 78% of registered voters surveyed saying they are extremely or somewhat concerned that it “influences what Americans think about political candidates.”

The co-chairs of Issue One’s National Council on Election Integrity — former U.S. Reps. Barbara Comstock, R-Va., Donna Edwards, D-Md., Tim Roemer, D-Ind., and Zach Wamp, R-Tenn. — issued a written statement on Monday addressing a fake video made by Russian actors on the ballots in Pennsylvania. The statement also criticized a Republican congressman from Maryland who said North Carolina should just give its electoral college votes to Trump.

“Foreign adversaries seek to influence U.S. elections by sowing division and spreading false information to undermine confidence in our system of self-government,” the co-chairs wrote. “Moreover, people who want to win at all costs continue to spread false claims about the integrity of elections and can create chaos, delay results and call into question the outcome of our fair electoral process. »

The four wrote that suggestions by Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, chairman of the far-right U.S. House Freedom Caucus, that North Carolina would simply give its 15 Electoral College votes to Trump “before the votes are not counted, are dangerous and contrary to the rule of law.”

“In rejecting the so-called independent state legislature theory in Moore v. Harper, the Supreme Court affirmed that state legislatures do not have the power to replace the popular will with a slate of electors,” they wrote.

Issue One describes itself as a “cross-party” organization that works to “unite Republicans, Democrats and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build an inclusive democracy that works for everyone.”

GOP Backlash Over Puerto Rico Insults at Trump Rally

Democrats and Republicans came together somewhat on Monday to express their anger at comedian’s comments on Puerto Rico at a Trump rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Tony Hinchcliffe, speaking in the hours before Trump’s comments, called Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now.”

Hinchcliffe later said Latinos “love making babies” and made other lewd comments.

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Nanette Diaz Barragán, D-Calif., issued a statement Monday calling the comments shameful and dangerous.

“This type of language reinforces prejudice, encourages violence, and undermines the values ​​of unity and respect on which our country is built,” Barragán wrote. “It is deeply troubling to see Republican leaders celebrating this rhetoric instead of promoting unity and truth. »

Vice President Harris told reporters traveling with her that the comedian’s comments were part of why voters were “exhausted” and “ready to move on” from Trump.

“This is absolutely something that is planned and fuels the attempt to divide our country,” Harris said.

Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott posted on social media that the comedian’s comments about Puerto Rico were “neither funny nor true.”

“Puerto Ricans are extraordinary people and extraordinary Americans!” I have been to the island several times. It’s a beautiful place. Everyone should visit! Scott wrote. “I will always do whatever I can to help any Puerto Rican in Florida or on the island.”

Florida Republican Rep. Carlos A. Giménez posted on social media that the comedian’s comments were “completely classless and in poor taste.”

“Puerto Rico is the jewel of the Caribbean and home to many of the most patriotic Americans I know,” Giménez wrote. “@TonyHinchcliffe is clearly not funny and certainly does not reflect my values ​​or those of the Republican Party.”

Puerto Rico’s Republican delegate to the House of Representatives, Jenniffer González-Colón, called the comedian’s comments “despicable, misguided and revolting.”

“What he said wasn’t funny; just as his comments were rejected by the public, they should be rejected by everyone! Gonzalez-Colón wrote. “There can be no room for such vile and racist expressions. They do not represent the values ​​of the GOP.

Ariana Figueroa contributed to this report.