Supporters of Donald Trump have told the Express they have no confidence the US election will be fair ahead of Tuesday’s crucial vote.
As the tightly fought contest between the former president and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris reaches its conclusion, Trump fans Steve McGuire and his wife Jodie claim they’ve already seen evidence on social media of people being disenfranchised.
“I don’t think the election will be fair,” he told the Express. “I mean, you go on Twitter or X and hear people are touching that screen for Trump and then it switches. They’re closing down polls early in Pennsylvania.
“Like Trump says, all they’re good at is cheating. I think it’s going to be a nail-biter.”
When asked, given the perception of voter fraud, what he thought might happen if Donald Trump wasn’t elected, the avid Republican supporter said, “I don’t know. That’s a good question.”
First-time voter Austin Burback told the Express he “hoped” the election would be fair but believed there was fraud.
“There’s not zero fraud,” he said, “but I don’t know how widespread it will be. If Kamala wins and it’s fair and square, then that’s the whole point of this country,” he added.
His friend Dominic Schnier shared a similar mindset: “There’s bound to be a little play from either side. Last election, there was more play from the Democrats against the Republicans. But what are you going to do about it?
“I don’t think it will be like last time when we had January 6th [insurrection]. As long as it is fair, people will accept it. But if people find evidence it’s been messed with, they’ll be upset.”
A migrant to the US from the Czech Republic who only wished to be known by his first name, Derk, was even more cynical about the electoral process.
“It’s like Stalin said, ‘Nobody wins, just the people who can count the votes win,'” he said. Derk had traveled to see Trump speak in Milwaukee with his friend Petr Drapalik, hoping to convince those still on the fence.
“It’s 50/50,” says Drapalik, whose affinity for the former president was sparked by the billionaire’s former wife Ivana’s Czech heritage. We need to tell people about Trump.”
Another first-time voter, Luke Wolfe, claimed there was already evidence of manipulation in the media’s coverage of Kamala Harris, suggesting editing on the Vice President’s recent interview with the CBS show 60 Minutes was an example of this.
“She gave an answer they twisted it and when they published it,” he said.
Polls show the US election is set to go right down to the wire, with many of the crucial swing states still within the margin for polling error. As the race reaches its final stages, both parties are pushing hard with a relentless schedule of rallies in the crucial areas.
Stay tuned to the Express for unique coverage of this historic event’s twists and turns.