Make America Accept Elections Again

Jennifer Constance, a single mother of two living in Brooklyn, has been a Republican since she was 18, just like her grandmother who worked at the Board of Elections when she was young. But Constance couldn’t bring herself to vote for Trump (or Biden) in the last election when it came time. She believes Trump is “a guy who is nasty and tends to racism,” which may be why he lost her vote. “Trump’s policies align with the word of God, which is something I live by, but his actions do not match,” said Constance. “There was so much hate happening, now that the election is over I feel relieved because it’s calmer now. I like peace.”

On November 7th, like Constance, many Americans across the country felt a sense of relief when they learned that President Donald Trump had lost his re-election bid to former Vice-President Biden and Senator Kamala Harris. There were literal celebrations, with thousands of Americans dancing in the streets in the cities of New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., just to name a few.

After the election was called for Biden, Trump did not concede and still hasn’t, even after having recounts in states like Georgia and Arizona, where the states still went for Biden. All 50 states certified the results of the election, resulting in Biden leading with 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 231—270 are needed to win the presidency. Instead of conceding, the outgoing president has alleged widespread voter fraud as the reason for his loss to now president-elect Joe Biden. “I WON THE ELECTION IN A LANDSLIDE, but remember, I only think in terms of legal votes, not all of the fake voters and fraud that miraculously floated in from everywhere! What a disgrace!” Trump tweeted. He and supporters have filed dozens of lawsuits across multiple states alleging voter fraud, each one either dismissed or thrown out of court.

As Trump continues to push back against his loss, President-elect Joe Biden is moving ahead with his cabinet picks and largely ignoring Trump’s antics. But it’s not as easy for many Americans who have grown increasingly alarmed by Trump and his supporters. Trump supporters became violent in Washington D.C. at a pro-Trump rally last weekend. The domestic terrorist organization, Proud Boys, was caught on video attacking protestors and burning Black Lives Matters signs torn from the Metropolitan AME Church building. Election officials in Michigan, Georgia and other states have been threatened by Trump supporters who refuse to believe the election outcome.

For some, this turn of events has become unnerving. “It undermines the fundamental principle of a peaceful transition of power,” said Laurie Hoffman, an independent in Chicago who voted for Biden. “He didn’t have to concede the election, but I don’t feel that he should be constantly claiming the only reason he lost is that it was rigged. People are getting their lives threatened over certifying the election results. That’s just wrong.”

Jessica Glines, a progressive voter from Utah, agrees that Trump’s incessant talk of fraud is creating lasting harm. She worries about how far Trump and his supporters will go to get the results they want. “I feel anxiety about how Trump and his cult following are reacting, their rage and violence,” said Glines, who cast her ballot for Biden. “It’s insulting and maddening. It is a tantrum of a sore loser. The allegations are unfounded and undermine the majority of voters, along with the processes and systems of democracy.”

Some, like Nanaba Maughn in Pennsylvania, are more embarrassed than afraid by President Trump’s unwillingness to concede. “I’m disappointed by [the] actions and behaviors of President Trump and his supporters,” Maughn said. “However, I pray they will repent and be delivered from whatever spirit of deception that they are oppressed by.”

Not all Trump supporters are reacting with such intensity; some have moved on. “I feel indifferent, tolerant … at peace,” said Kaleb Hanley of California, who hoped Trump would win. “I’ve stopped watching the news and started focusing on myself. If there’s evidence then yeah, they should investigate, but I haven’t been paying attention.”