Trump faces backlash for asking people to vote twice to test mail-in ballot system

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump is facing setbacks for trying to get voters in North Carolina to vote by mail and then personally vote to test the mail-in ballot system in the November 3 election.

Trump was asked on Wednesday if he had faith in the vote-by-mail system when a television reporter traveled to Wilmington, North Carolina.

“They vote, and then they have to check their vote by going to the polls and voting because if it is tabled they can’t do that,” Trump told WECT. “So, let them send it and vote.

“And if the system is as good as they say, they can’t vote clearly (at the poll). If it’s not tabled, they can vote.”

North Carolina’s Attorney General, Democrat Josh Stein, said the president’s suggestion that “people should break the law to help him sow chaos in our election” was outrageous.

“Make sure you vote, but don’t vote twice!” Stein tweeted. “I will do everything in my power to uphold the will of the people in November.”

This is a double vote under North Carolina state law. After someone casts an absentee ballot, that person cannot change or cancel it, or decide to vote in person on election day, according to the state election board’s website.

Asked about Trump’s suggestion in a CNN interview, Attorney General William Barr admitted that he was unaware of the election laws in each state, but that Trump was confident that mail-in voting would be rigged. It’s like “playing with fire”.

In response, Michigan’s Attorney General, Democrat Dana Nestle tweeted: “Hey Folks. Attorney General Nessel is Michigan’s highest law enforcement officer, for trackers. Do not try this at home. I will investigate you.Trump is facing a pushback for asking people to vote twice as a test

States that rely on mail-in ballots are said to have less evidence of fraudulent activity. Multiple studies have eliminated the notion of widespread voter fraud in general and in the vote-by-mail process.

Five states that relied on mail-in ballots before the coronavirus epidemic – Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah – said they had the necessary defenses against fraud and to prevent attempts to influence hostile foreign intruders. Vote. More states expect this fall due to the epidemic to rely more on mail-in voting.

Barr cited a report from a commission headed by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker a decade ago, saying it was subject to vote-by-mail fraud. But the commission noted in a statement in May that there was little evidence of fraud in states such as Oregon that had adequate security.

The White House defended the president, saying he was fighting for a fair and free electoral system free from fraud and abuse. White House Press Secretary Kylie McNani told the Fox News Channel on Thursday that “the idea that he is encouraging people to vote twice is just another example of the media taking him out of context and ignoring the facts.”

Drew reported from a rally in North Carolina