The only conclusive thing that can be said about the national elections in the United States last week is that the country remains deeply divided. While there has not been an official winner certified in the Presidential contest, most major media outlets have declared former Vice-President Joe Biden the winner. Despite that fact, there are several states whose results are still too close to call, and President Donald Trump has not yet conceded the race. President Trump has made accusations about election irregularities and has begun to pursue legal challenges in the courts.
No matter how the Presidential election turns out, the facts are the difference in vote counts amongst the most contested states will only be in the thousands. The more than 76 million votes former Vice-President Biden received will be the most ever cast for a United States President. Likewise, the roughly 72 million votes cast for President Trump is the second most. Record turnout coupled by a too narrow margin of victory in a Presidential race that was said to be for the “sole of the country” indicates the country will remain deeply divided. No matter which candidate ultimately gets sworn in on January 20, 2021, half of those who voted will feel disappointed and depending on how the legal challenges play out maybe even disenfranchised.
It also appears control of the United States Senate will be decided in a run-off election in the state of Georgia scheduled for January 5, 2021. Pundits anticipate records amounts of money will be spent in Georgia on this crucial election. This continued uncertainty about control over the balance of power will further add to the prospect of unrest through the new year.
Former Vice-President Biden has called for unity, but it is yet to be seen if a polarized nation will come together this soon after an emotional election season. The high tensions of the election coupled with increasing cases of COVID-19 that have spiked fears of shutdowns, are a recipe for even more unrest in America.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Threat Assessment released in October warns that white supremacist groups pose the “most persistent and lethal” domestic terror threat in America. Groups like these as well as far-left groups like ANITFA could use the uncertainty and division following the election to incite more violence. Furthermore, if more restrictive COVID-19 shutdowns are put in place by a potential Biden administration, tensions could be increased even more.
The United States could see unrest in major urban areas of the United States, especially in some of the states where election results are still being contested. The turmoil could be like the unrest seen this summer throughout the United States. The potential for unrest will remain through the Georgia run-off election on January 5 until the Inauguration.
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