The threat of foreign and domestic interference has only grown as the world advances; the US must now do more to protect Democracy by safeguarding elections and preventing another like 2020.
TOPSHOT – Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they push barricades to storm the US Capitol in Washington D.C on January 6, 2021. – Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)
By Maliyah Simone, CRDN
Tuesday, August 27, 2024
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, concerns have been growing about the threats of campaign interference, both foreign and domestic. Each type presents differing challenges to the integrity of American democracy; understanding their distinctions, historical contexts, and potential impacts is critical for voters and policymakers alike.
Foreign interference is defined as actions taken by foreign governments to influence the outcome of an election outside of their governing country. This can include the spread of disinformation through their own campaigns, cyberattacks launched on election infrastructure systems, financial contributions paid to candidates or entire political parties, and efforts made to affect the public viewpoints and opinions about a candidate or election; and, at times, the democratic process itself.
Much to its namesake, domestic interference involves actions taken by individuals or entities within the country that have an impact on its own election. This can range from voter suppression tactics, the spread of disinformation against opposing campaigns, and even attacks on the candidates themselves. Primarily, domestic interference occurs when the political climate is very turbulent, i.e., an election year.
During the 2016 US Election, foreign interference garnered attention when Russia was found to have launched a campaign to influence the election’s outcome. This campaign consisted of the hacking and releasing of emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC), spreading disinformation across social media platforms, and attempting to further divide the American people. The Russian interference not only raised questions about the election’s legitimacy but also highlighted vulnerabilities in the U.S. political system.
On the other hand, domestic interference has a much more extensive history within the U.S. Divisive tactics have only become more advanced over time, and those who wish to exploit their fellow Americans, have gone to great lengths to do so. An example of this exploitation, known as the Jim Crow era, was marked by blatant voter suppression policies; those of which particularly targeted African Americans in the South. However, in recent decades, gerrymandering and voter ID laws have been speculated as modern forms of domestic interference that aim at shaping the electoral votes to benefit certain political parties.
The most dangerous domestic interference to have occurred in our country during the 20th century was that of the 2020 election. Disinformation was everywhere and the candidates themselves were often the culprits of spreading them. In fact, the term “fake news” coined by Donald Trump became widely used to describe news that did not support his agenda. The “fake news” claims caused confusion and discord among voters and the media. Fact-checking became the way of the world during this period in time with many news organizations on high alert during important events such as debates and party committee meetings.
Potentially the most threatening domestic interference event of all was January 6th, 2021. Former President Donald Trump accused the election of being “stolen” from him and his supporters. This resulted in an all-out attack on the Nation’s Capitol as nationalists and self-proclaimed patriots stormed the Capitol building. Images and video evidence from that day show police officers being brutalized, government officials cowering in corners, and the halls of our Capitol building ransacked and left in disarray.
Many arrests have been made in connection to that day and those involved are being tried and found guilty by the highest court of our nation.
As the 2024 election nears, US officials warn Americans of the possibilities that come with the threat of interference both foreign and domestic. In order to protect our election, we must take steps towards fostering an informed and engaged electorate. The US has launched campaigns to safeguard the integrity of our election by ensuring Americans and their candidates understand the importance of fair voting practices, accurate information, and the termination of interference by any means necessary.