All articles tagged with #electoral fraud
Both sides accuse the other of electoral fraud as Hungary votes in a pivotal election, with record early turnout and hundreds of observers watching polling stations; experts warn the results could be legally challenged regardless of who wins, and tensions hint at possible post-election clashes.
Polls opened at 6am for Hungary's parliamentary election with a record turnout expected; early figures show 3.46% voting by 7am, 16.9% by 9am, and 37.98% by 11am among about 7.5 million eligible voters, as PM Viktor Orbán and opposition leader Péter Magyar cast ballots. Fears of fraud have spurred watchdog efforts and roughly 900 foreign observers are registered.
Kenneth Chesebro, a lawyer involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and who helped craft the fake elector plot, has been disbarred in New York following his conviction in Georgia for his role in attempting to subvert the election, citing his conduct as undermining justice and democracy.
NBC's hiring of former RNC chair Ronna McDaniel as a politics analyst has sparked criticism from historians, journalists, and union groups due to her support for Donald Trump's electoral fraud claims. Critics argue that McDaniel's role undermines the pursuit of truth and facts in media, given her involvement in attempts to undermine democracy. Despite McDaniel's recent acknowledgment of Biden's victory, her past actions and statements continue to draw condemnation from various quarters.
Vladimir Putin claimed a new six-year term in Russia's presidential election, which has been condemned as neither free nor fair by Western nations due to the barring of genuine opposition candidates and tight control over the media. The Central Election Commission reported record-high turnout and Putin's landslide victory with 87.28 percent of the vote, amidst allegations of electoral fraud and manipulation. The election took place amid Russia's war against Ukraine and following the sudden death of Putin's political rival, Alexei Navalny. Despite signs of public fury and protests, Putin declared broad public support and his intention to continue the war in Ukraine.
A lawyer testified that a false certificate claiming Donald Trump won Michigan's 2020 presidential election made it to the U.S. Senate, but no lawmaker sought to have the document formally considered. The certificate, signed by 16 Michigan Republicans, was used by Trump's campaign to challenge and attempt to overturn his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. The lawyer's testimony detailed how the false certificates from Michigan and six other states were handled by the U.S. Senate ahead of the formal counting of electoral votes in Congress on Jan. 6, 2021. Defense lawyers argued that the certificate had no legal significance because Biden's victory in Michigan had already been certified, while the prosecution contends that the Republicans intended to keep a legal avenue open for lawsuits to potentially reverse the election's outcome.
Virginia elections officials have admitted to misreported 2020 election votes that resulted in an artificially inflated total for Donald Trump and a decrease in votes for Joe Biden. The errors, attributed to lack of proper planning, a difficult election environment, and human error, did not affect the overall election results in Virginia. The former registrar in Prince William county was indicted on charges related to the 2020 election, but the charges were recently dropped.
In Serbia, opposition lawmaker Marinika Tepic continues her hunger strike, now 11 days in, to protest the fairness of recent national and local elections, which she and her Serbia Against Violence (SPN) alliance claim were fraudulent. The protests have been ongoing since President Aleksandar Vucic's ruling party declared landslide victories. International observers from the OSCE reported the elections were conducted under "unjust conditions." The opposition is demanding nullification of the results and an international review, with new elections within six months. Meanwhile, Vucic maintains the elections were fair, despite allegations of voter fraud and improper voting practices.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's ruling party, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), is projected to win almost 47% of the vote in snap parliamentary elections, heading for an absolute majority. Opposition parties under the Serbia Against Violence (SPN) banner are claiming electoral fraud and calling for a recount. Initial results show the SNS winning over half of the seats in the National Assembly. The SPN had hoped to win control of Belgrade in local elections but the SNS is slightly ahead. The protests against Vucic and his party grew after two mass shootings in May.
Six members of a group of Michigan Republicans facing felony charges for submitting false electoral votes for former President Donald Trump in the 2020 election appeared in court for a preliminary hearing. The Michigan Attorney General's Office alleges that the group knowingly submitted false electoral votes, falsely claiming to be the state's rightful electors. Witnesses from law enforcement and the election certification process testified, including the Michigan Director of Elections who received an email about a separate set of electors being sent to the National Archives. Defense attorneys argued that their clients participated in a political protest, while the prosecution called them "brainwashed." The preliminary hearings will continue with more witnesses expected to testify.
Six Nevada Republicans have been charged with two felonies each for casting fake electoral votes for Donald Trump in the 2020 election. The charges include "offering a false instrument for filing" and "uttering a forged instrument." Similar cases have been reported in other states, with some still under investigation. The charges come as part of efforts to defend democracy and ensure justice is served.
Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been sworn in for a second term after winning a disputed presidential vote. Mnangagwa secured an absolute majority with over 2 million votes, while his main challenger, Nelson Chamisa, alleged electoral fraud and called for fresh elections. The election process was criticized by observers for falling short of regional and international standards, with reports of curtailed freedoms, violence, and intimidation. The opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change, will not challenge the results in court, citing a compromised legal system, and will instead seek political and diplomatic remedies.
The presidential election in Guatemala is thrown into uncertainty as the country's top electoral body certifies the results of the first-round elections, sending former first lady Sandra Torres and reformist candidate Bernardo Arévalo to a runoff. However, at the same time, another court accuses Arévalo's party of fraud and bars him from participating in politics. Arévalo refuses to obey the decision, calling it politically motivated. The electoral body is unsure of the court's decision's implications, while independent watchdog groups criticize it as an act of illegality. The US expresses concerns about threats to Guatemala's electoral democracy and emphasizes the need for institutions to respect the will of voters.
The Atlanta prosecutor investigating former President Donald Trump and his allies in the electoral fraud case has filed a motion to disqualify the lawyer representing the self-identified "alternate electors" who signed an unofficial electoral certificate for Georgia in 2020. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said investigators in her office recently interviewed some of the 16 Republican Party activists and found that they have turned on one another. Charging decisions are imminent.