Donald J. Trump has won the 2024 U.S. presidential election, bringing a close to a highly contested and tense race. While the outcome had been anticipated to spark legal battles and claims of election irregularities, Trump’s victory has now been confirmed. The election was particularly fraught in swing states where Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri mentions, “around 70 pro-Trump election conspiracists are positioned to review the results.” Despite these concerns, the integrity of the process held up, with votes counted and certified as the law requires. While the political aftermath is still unfolding, Trump’s win provides a decisive end to the uncertainty that has surrounded the 2024 election.
Yet, even with the election’s conclusion, U.S. democracy faces significant challenges. A recent Pew Research Center survey found that nearly 60 percent of Americans are dissatisfied with how democracy is working. A troubling 30 percent of Americans remain unsure that their votes will be counted accurately at the national level, reflecting widespread mistrust in the electoral system. Confidence in local elections is higher, with 74 percent of respondents trusting their community’s voting process. This confidence gap reveals an opportunity to rebuild trust, focusing on the transparency and security of local elections where officials and volunteers work closely with their communities. Americans should be able to trust our electoral system for our democracy to continue to work now and in the future.
Also, despite the uncertainty, the U.S. election system is robust, with safeguards like paper trails, risk-limiting audits, and strict procedures to ensure accuracy. The Bipartisan Policy Center poll says, “72 percent of Americans are concerned about inaccurate or misleading information,” which has only deepened mistrust. Rebuilding confidence in the system will require more transparency, better education, and stronger community engagement to ensure that democracy remains healthy and trusted for years to come.
