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Russian President Vladimir Putin messaged his improve for Republican-backed election lies on Tuesday, pushing his personal false declare that U.S. mail-in balloting has allowed U.S. officers to “falsify” elections.
Russia’s chief, who these days appears to be rigging his personal presidential election, plainly had ideas to percentage at the factor of illegal electioneering.
Consistent with Reuters, Putin stated on Tuesday that, “in the United States, previous elections were falsified through postal voting ... they bought ballots for $10, filled them out, and threw them into mailboxes without any supervision from observers, and that’s it.”
None of that in reality took place, after all.
Putin’s remarks align with lies Republicans have unfold, like claims that mail-in balloting is rife with fraud and, extra in particular, that mail-in voter fraud value Donald Trump the 2020 election. However after struggling key losses in 2020 and once more in 2022, some Republican Birthday celebration officers were encouraging their base to soak up mail-in balloting within the upcoming election anyway. Even Trump — who in the past claimed “YOU CAN NEVER HAVE FAIR & FREE ELECTIONS WITH MAIL-IN BALLOTS” — stated remaining 12 months that his birthday celebration has “no choice” however to embody mail-in balloting. Republicans say they’re nonetheless preventing their electorate’ hesitancy over mailing ballots. Putin’s remarks most likely received’t lend a hand on that entrance, given the hectic stage of improve for him we've got noticed from the Republican base over the past 12 months.
The timing of the remarks additionally turns out important. With Republicans in Congress these days blocking off a invoice that might authorize extra assist to lend a hand Ukraine struggle Russia’s invasion, Putin's phrases will also be noticed as a sign of his persevered improve for the GOP’s political motive. And, importantly, it is a approach to sow chaos within the American political machine.