Allies urge battleground GOP-controlled legislatures to guarantee a Trump win

Far-right allies of former President Donald Trump are calling on the state legislature in North Carolina and other closely contested presidential battleground states where Republicans hold control to short-circuit the popular vote and directly award the state’s 16 electoral votes to Trump. Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security director and the event’s star attraction, introduced Raiklin as an “amazing guy” and a “friend” who “has a plan,” during the far-right gathering in Selma, a Republican-leaning suburb outside of Raleigh that is part of an area where Democrats made slight gains in the last presidential election. So, how do we guarantee that we have a free, fair, safe and secure, fully transparent election come yesterday through November 5th?” Raiklin’s call to set aside the popular vote in North Carolina provides an indicator of how close the contest in what is considered a must-win state in any electoral path to victory for the Republican nominee. “We will see whether turnout picks up as we get close to the election, but at this very early stage, it is certainly possible that the election may, at least partially, hinge on whether voters in western North Carolina return to normal levels of engagement before Election Day.” Fritsch, a political consultant who publishes the far-right conspiracy news site National File, has also cited the devastation caused by Helene as a reason the popular vote should be disregarded in North Carolina. Brinson Bell told reporters during a press call on Oct. 15 that her staff is “very confident in what we are going to be able to provide to the voters of western North Carolina.” She added that the resolution approved by the State Board of Elections and an emergency law passed by the state legislature are “very sound in giving the flexibility to the counties to administer this election in a way that can serve the voters and be accessible to the voters and give them the flexibility that they need to have adequate workers and adequate sites, and make adjustments to those sites in an emergency situation.” Brinson Bell also offered assurances that absentee ballots sent out before the storm will remain secure.