October 9 :
In anticipation of a closely contested vote in the presidential election on November 5, opponents are gearing up to cast doubt on the veracity of the results after the polls close, according to a senior U.S. intelligence official who spoke on October 7. U.S. intelligence officials warned that "foreign influence actors" would try to cast doubt on the election results during a briefing on Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba's efforts to influence the election.
American intelligence reports that China has attempted to influence multiple legislative elections and down-ballot contests this year, in addition to Russia and Iran's efforts to influence American votes during the presidential campaign. U.S. intelligence official claims foreign actors could try to sow discord among Americans by sowing doubt about the legitimacy of the election and voting procedures in the event of a contested election.
Chinese government proxies were concentrating on "tens" of down-ballot elections, while Russians aimed to rally American voters against pro-Ukrainian measures. According to the US intelligence officer, Beijing is trying to sway congressional contests by endorsing candidates from all political parties, even those it views as enemies of its fundamental interests, particularly in regard to Taiwan. An evaluation of the potential effects of the initiatives was omitted by the official.
There was no quick response from the Chinese embassy in Washington. The Chinese government has rejected allegations of meddling in American elections, describing them as "malicious speculation." U.S.-China ties have always been tense due to American support for Taiwan, the democratic island that Beijing claims as its own.
While the intelligence community has not yet detected Iranian efforts to influence congressional or state elections, they have determined that Iran's goal is to encourage voters to back Democratic Party presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. This opinion remained unchanged since September, when American officials similarly claimed that Russia aimed to discredit Harris in order to boost Trump's popularity.
In order to sow discord on contentious topics like gender rights, abortion, and immigration, the official warned that other countries would try to "launder their narratives" through American citizens' voices, whether intended or not. In addition, Cuba was probably trying to promote candidates it believed would be good for its interests by targeting Latino and Spanish-speaking voters on social media.
There was a threefold increase in the amount of "defensive briefings" given to candidates, campaigns, and election authorities by intelligence agencies regarding influence activities, including those by Russia, China, and Iran, compared to previous election cycles. Election officials and voting machines in the United States, however, were supposedly more ready than ever before.
U.S. election infrastructure is "more secure than any prior election cycle," according to a Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency official. "We do believe the election community is more prepared for the incidents that may arise than any prior cycle."
