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| America warns that external parties will raise doubts about voting via mail |
US federal law enforcement and cyber security agencies warned Tuesday that "foreign actors" may use slow mail voting to try to discredit the November presidential election.
Americans are expected to record a record number of votes in the presidential election on November 3 between Republican President (Donald Trump) and his Democratic opponent (Joe Biden).
Many American voters view postal ballots as a safer option during the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 200,000 Americans. However, the count time for the postal vote is usually longer than the personal vote.
The FBI and the Agency for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security said in a joint public service statement that doing so "could cause officials to receive incomplete results on election night."
The agencies said, "Foreign actors and cyber criminals can use the time needed to prove and publish election results by spreading false information, including deleted voter reports, cyberattacks on electoral infrastructure, and fraud in elections or voting."
These institutions said: This can be done in the form of new websites or through social media content. The goal is "to discredit the electoral process and undermine confidence in the American democratic system."
People close to Biden's campaign said: The campaign is preparing for the possibility of change, even if Trump gets tentative results. With Democrats expecting to vote more by mail, they fear it will lead Trump to complain about the incorrect results.
It should be noted that postal voting has become a controversial topic. Trump has repeatedly warned - without providing any evidence - that this practice is fraudulent and that Democrats will use postal ballots to rig the election. However, the Trump campaign has urged the president's supporters to demand the mail vote as well.
Biden currently tops opinion polls in most countries, but results should be close.