As the contentious 2024 U.S. presidential election enters its final days, democracy in the United States faces unprecedented scrutiny as trust in electoral integrity deteriorates. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump are locked in a polarizing contest highlighting deep divisions in the American political landscape.
In a powerful campaign closing argument this evening, Harris warned Americans that the stakes are dire, framing the election as a choice “between a country rooted in freedom for every American or one ruled by chaos and division.” Her message came as alarming incidents of election interference and voter suppression across the country continue to erode public trust.
Earlier today, CNN reported a troubling incident in Miami-Dade County, Florida, where a driver discovered a box and bag of early voting ballots abandoned on the road. Fortunately, the ballots were immediately returned to a police station, with election staff confirming they had not been tampered with. However, the discovery has fueled fears of mishandling and voter suppression.
Concerns have also intensified after multiple reports of ballot drop boxes being set on fire this week. In Clark County, Washington, a ballot box at the Fisher’s Landing Transit Center was torched, damaging hundreds of ballots. Barely a week ago, a USPS collection box was also burned in Phoenix, Arizona, affecting up to 20 ballots. Election officials are grappling with the implications of these acts and reassuring voters of measures to secure their ballots.
Meanwhile, the spread of conspiracy theories has prompted warnings from U.S. intelligence agencies, which now view extremists inspired by these narratives as a significant threat to the 2024 election. NBC News reported that these groups could target candidates, elected officials, election workers, journalists, and judges, heightening the risk to the democratic process.
Billionaire Elon Musk has added to the controversy in a major way by distributing $1 million daily to Americans in a swing state if they register to vote and sign a petition for a super PAC supporting Trump. The “winner” is “chosen at random” by Musk’s campaign group America PAC, which he set up to support Republican nominee Donald Trump’s bid to return to the White House. Critics argue Musk’s actions dangerously blur the line between voter engagement and vote-buying, raising ethical concerns over the influence of private wealth on democracy. The Justice Department has warned Elon Musk’s America PAC that his $1 million sweepstakes to registered voters in swing states may violate federal law.
In Pennsylvania, Bucks County reported an incident of voter suppression when early voting locations were abruptly closed by emergency services ahead of the scheduled cutoff. In a letter sent on Sunday to county officials, U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and several GOP members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly claimed that the county disenfranchised voters on Saturday. They stated that individuals who went to the Doylestown election office to request a mail ballot were turned away two hours before the office closed. The sudden shutdown left many voters disenfranchised, compounding accusations of systemic attempts to undermine voter access.
With the 2024 U.S. presidential elections just 7 days away, mounting incidents of ballot interference, voter suppression, and heightened security threats underscore the fragile state of American democracy. As both candidates make their final appeals, the nation waits to see if its institutions can withstand the strain and deliver a free and fair election.