Domestic terrorism analysts have warned for weeks about the possible triggers of election-related violence: a protracted vote count. Claims of rigging. Rampant disinformation. Protesters and vigilantes.
For all the worry about voter intimidation on Election Day, the aftermath was always the more urgent concern for groups and scholars who track how political disagreements spiral into street violence or extremist mobilizing. Now, the moment they dreaded has arrived, with a contentious vote count plunging the U.S. into an open-ended danger zone.
“As I’ve said repeatedly, the period between Election Day and election results is dicey,” tweeted researcher J.J. MacNab of George Washington University’s Program on Extremism. “When definitive information is lacking, conspiracy theories thrive.”
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