The Threat To American Democracy

As the Republican and Democratic parties prepare for November's mid-terms, the last major polling day before the 2024 Presidential election, we hear what is being done to counter these threats. And with Donald Trump's Stop the Steal campaign bringing doubts about the electoral system into the political mainstream, is an erosion of faith in democracy now the greatest threat of all?

In Episode Five, we hear about a national campaign of threats and violent abuse directed at election volunteers when it became clear that Donald Trump had lost the last Presidential election. Will a future election trigger an even greater backlash if the result is controversial with some voters? And could some officials simply refuse to follow precedent and begin taking the electoral process into their own hands?

Presenter: Owen Bennett-Jones

Producer: Leo Hornak

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the risk of a constitutional crisis after the next US election

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the threats facing America's electoral system.

As the Republican and Democratic parties prepare for November's mid-terms, the last major polling day before the 2024 Presidential election, we hear what is being done to counter these threats. And with Donald Trump's Stop the Steal campaign bringing doubts about the electoral system into the political mainstream, is an erosion of faith in democracy now the greatest threat of all?

In Episode Two, an election analyst spots an impossible result at a polling station in Memphis, Tennessee. Owen examines whether America's reliance on electronic voting machines has made preventing and detecting fraud more difficult and we hear how the Stop the Steal movement has exploited fears of electoral fraud.

Presenter: Owen Bennett-Jones

Producer: Leo Hornak

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the risks posed by America's electronic voting machines.

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the threats facing America's electoral system.

As the Republican and Democratic parties prepare for November's mid-terms, the last major polling day before the 2024 Presidential election, we hear what is being done to counter these threats. And with Donald Trump's Stop the Steal campaign bringing doubts about the electoral system into the political mainstream, is an erosion of faith in democracy now the greatest threat of all?

In Episode Three, a pro-Trump politician runs for governor in Kansas on a platform of protecting elections from fraud. His opponents believe projects like his are the real threat to democracy - a process of ‘voter suppression'.

Presenter: Owen Bennett-Jones

Producer: Leo Hornak

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the impact of voter suppression on US elections.

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the threats facing America's electoral system.

As the Republican and Democratic parties prepare for November's mid-terms, the last major polling day before the 2024 Presidential election, we hear what is being done to counter these threats. And with Donald Trump's Stop the Steal campaign bringing doubts about the electoral system into the political mainstream, is an erosion of faith in democracy now the greatest threat of all?

In Episode One, a young cyber-security expert in Georgia stumbles upon a trove of highly confidential information about thousands of voters - a potential gift to hackers and hostile foreign governments. We also learn of Russian attempts to hack the infrastructure of American elections.

Presenter: Owen Bennett-Jones

Producer: Leo Hornak

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Owen Bennett-Jones explores Russian attempts to hack America's electoral system.

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the threats facing America's electoral system.

As the Republican and Democratic parties prepare for November's mid-terms, the last major polling day before the 2024 Presidential election, we hear what is being done to counter these threats. And with the Stop the Steal campaign bringing doubts about the electoral system into the political mainstream, is an erosion of faith in democracy now the greatest threat of all?

In Episode Four, a data-breach at an election office in Georgia leads to the leak of highly sensitive voting software. The perpetrators believe that they are working to protect the future of American democracy. Elsewhere, the pro-Trump Stop the Steal movement is attempting to take control of key electoral posts ahead of the next presidential election.

Presenter: Owen Bennett-Jones

Producer: Leo Hornak

A Novel production for BBC Radio 4

Owen Bennett-Jones explores how the Stop the Steal movement is changing US politics.

Owen Bennett-Jones explores the threats facing America's electoral system.