The Origins of Election Denial

Election denial has historical roots that predate Trump, indicating a pattern of discontent among certain political factions whenever electoral outcomes do not favor them. Instances of calling elections fraudulent can be traced back decades, such as the accusations against Acorn during the 2008 election and the claims of the birther movement. Following his victory in 2016, Trump continued to assert that illegal votes cost him the popular vote, showing a persistent tendency to question electoral integrity. This behavior is not isolated; various accusations of election rigging have recurred throughout American political history, implying that the strategy of delegitimizing elections has been a common tactic employed by certain groups within the Republican Party over time.