It was early on Wednesday morning some four years ago, hours after the polls had closed when then President Donald Trump falsely claimed victory in the election of 2020.

Never mind the fact that millions of legitimate votes had yet to be counted. And a half-dozen states hadn't yet been called for either Trump or President Joe Biden.

POLITICO has spoken to dozens of people familiar or involved with the election process this year. And according to their reporting, a consensus has emerged.

Not only could Donald Trump make a second attempt to overturn an election if he loses. But the groundwork for doing so has already been laid.

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