Game out the following scenario in a Presidential election between Trump vs Harris. It is 9pm and Trump declares victory and demands a stop to the counting. Without being specific, he suggests his follower take action at midnight. What happens over the next 48 hours? What happens when the electoral college meets?
Based on the search results and context provided, here's how the scenario might unfold:
## First 12 Hours (9 PM - 9 AM)
- Harris campaign immediately activates their prepared response plan, flooding media channels with messages urging calm[4]
- Social media platforms begin flagging Trump's declarations as misleading
- Law enforcement increases security at vote counting centers
- By midnight, protests begin forming at key counting locations
- Democratic legal teams file preemptive court actions to ensure vote counting continues
## Day 1 (9 AM - 9 PM)
- Vote counting continues despite protests
- Multiple simultaneous lawsuits filed by Trump campaign in battleground states
- Markets show initial volatility but stabilize as institutional responses activate
- Media organizations continue reporting results regardless of Trump's declaration
- Protests grow larger at vote counting centers, particularly in swing states
- State election officials from both parties publicly affirm their commitment to complete the count
## Day 2 (24-48 Hours)
- First complete state results begin to emerge
- Court rulings start coming in on emergency filings
- National Guard may be activated in states experiencing significant unrest
- International allies begin issuing statements supporting democratic processes
- Both campaigns establish competing media narratives about legitimacy
## Electoral College Meeting
- If results remain disputed, two scenarios could unfold:
1. Clear mathematical winner emerges despite protests
2. Disputed electors from multiple states create constitutional crisis
- State legislatures may attempt to intervene in elector selection
- Supreme Court likely becomes involved if state results remain contested
- Congress prepares for potential January 6th challenges to certification
The situation could become particularly volatile if margins are extremely close in multiple battleground states, potentially leading to an extended period of uncertainty and legal challenges[1][4].
Citations:
[1] https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/overview-trump-calls-vote-counting-stop-path-victory/story?id=74038071
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsI3jcgiIhA
[3] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/classroom/daily-videos/2020/11/trump-declares-victory-prematurely-seeks-to-delegitimize-election
[4] https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-11-01/democrats-have-a-plan-if-trump-prematurely-declares-election-victory
[5] https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2024/10/30/trump-sues-bucks-county-pennsylvania-long-lines
[6] https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-early-voting-problems-bucks-lehigh-county-2916b3bf337d39635d63f642435aa1f9
[7] https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/decision-2024/voters-bucks-county-pennsylvania-early-ballots/4016094/
[8] https://6abc.com/post/election-2024-russian-actors-made-fake-video-showing-destroyed-mail-ballots-bucks-county-pennsylvania-fbi/15470759/
