The results of the American presidential election can be challenged only at the state level and could be a time-consuming process, a study has shown amid apprehension by Republican nominee Donald Trump of mass scale voter fraud and electoral malpractice.
“It is an individual state that has the initial responsibility for resolving a challenge, recount, or contest to the results of a presidential election within that jurisdiction,” said a report of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), an independent research wing of Congress.
And if Trump decides to challenge the results, the burden of proof would be on him, it said. Authored by legislative attorney Jack Maskell, the brief report running into less than 10 pages notes that under the US Constitution, the States are delegated the initial and principal authority for the administration of elections within their jurisdictions, including elections to federal office.
“Such election administration in the states would generally include provisions for recounts, challenges, or contests to the results of such elections in the state that may be filed by the appropriate parties within a specific time frame and procedure established by state law,” it said.
CRS reports are not official reports of the Congress but are prepared by eminent experts for lawmakers to have informed decisions on issue of their concerns. Over the past few week, Trump has been alleging that there could be large scale voter fraud against him in the November 8 general election.