Opinion | Credibility of US democracy is in the docks with presidential election
- Allegations of fraud and cyberattacks in the 2016, 2020 elections have polarised voters. The Biden-Trump showdown is a chance to shore up credibility in US elections and democracy
Election security is fundamental to the integrity of democracy. In the US, election credibility has been shaken by allegations of foreign interference, voter fraud and other irregularities, after the presidential vote in 2016 and 2020.
In response, significant steps were taken to enhance election security before the 2020 presidential election. In 2017, the Department of Homeland Security designated election infrastructure as critical infrastructure, allowing for increased federal support and coordination with state and local authorities.
States implemented various measures such as upgrading voting machines, creating backups with paper ballots and enhancing cybersecurity measures. Despite these efforts, when the presidential election rolled around in 2020, it was again subject to controversy.