As votes were cast Tuesday night in Georgia’s two tight Senate contests, President Donald Trump predicted that state election officials would post a large chunk of results that would overwhelm Republican candidates. And he hinted that it would be an act of electoral fraud.
“Looks like they’re creating a big ‘voter dump’ against Republican candidates. Waiting to see how many votes they need?” The president tweeted just before 10:30 p.m. ET.
In reality, however, these lead changes and posting of voting results during elections are common and commonplace.
HOW ARE THEY ORDINARY?
They reflect the usual ebb and flow of a process that involves tabulating and releasing massive batches of results, with drivers often changing hands as the count continues.
For example, Floyd County, Georgia, a Republican stronghold where Trump had previously held a rally, released all of its findings Tuesday in a large drop in voting around 10 p.m., which made early returns favorable. to Republican Party candidates Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue.
Candidate leadership changes can be pronounced especially when votes are recorded in densely populated counties, which often favor Democratic candidates.
WHY DOES THE PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT SOUND FAMILY?
Trump’s tweet revisits a similar baseless statement he made about his own loss in November of President-elect Joe Biden. Trump had jumped to the top spot on election day on several battlefields, but as ballots continued to be counted by email, Biden finally overtook him.
HOW DID GEORGIA GET INVOLVED FROM THEN?
Trump has repeatedly claimed – and falsely – that his loss to Biden was the product of widespread electoral fraud. And he has reserved special anger in Georgia, where both contests were held.
On Saturday, during a phone call with Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, which was recorded and later leaked to the media, Trump repeatedly argued that Secretary Brad Raffensperger could change the certified results for him to win. He also urged him to “find 11,780 votes” that would overshadow Biden’s margin of victory.
“We have at least 2 or 3: 250 to 300,000 ballots mysteriously fell on the rolls. Much of that had to do with Fulton County, which has not been proven, “he said Saturday during a phone call with Raffensperger.
Raffensperger has repeatedly rejected Trump’s request and his office has made several contests and rewards. They all confirmed Biden’s victory.