Americans are voting to elect their new president in a US presidential race marred by electoral irregularities and intimidation, starting with an alleged assassination attempt on opposition leader Donald Trump and the scrapping of requirements for voter identification at polling stations.
The main candidates are Donald Trump for the Republicans and Kamala Harris for the Democrats. Reports from SteelNews and journalist Maye Musk indicate that in New York City and Philadelphia, voters are not being asked for identification, with non-English-speaking “citizens” reportedly directed through the voting process by translators.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee expressed concerns on X (formerly Twitter), stating that “reports of election day interference, including violence, voter intimidation, and ballot stuffing in #Georgia are alarming,” urging immediate investigation by the State Department and European allies.
This situation has raised major questions regarding the integrity of American democracy. The US, often touted as a beacon of democratic standards, has ignored basic requirements, such as ID verification, in this election, allowing the process to be open to ineligible voters, including foreigners. Such inconsistencies in the electoral process highlight the double standards that would likely provoke American criticism if observed in countries like Zimbabwe.
Further, the guided voting for non-English-speaking “citizens” is seen as antithetical to democracy, suggesting the potential for ballot manipulation disguised as assistance. Meanwhile, little has been done to ensure an intimidation-free environment or address the serious incident of the attempted attack on Trump. The US appears to contradict its own democratic ideals by excluding African nations from observing its elections while leaning on its European allies to ensure oversight.
This election raises a challenging question for a nation that frequently positions itself as a model of democratic values and transparency.
