US tightens security for election certification to avoid another insurrection

In a bid to avoid the recurrence of the January 6 attack on the capitol building by pro-Trump supporters in 2021, the US government is planning to increase security for Congress’ certification of the upcoming November 5 presidential elections.

The Secret Service announced on Wednesday in a statement that, in a significant move, the US Department of Homeland Security has designated the congressional certification as a “national security event”. The designation given to the event allows the Secret Service to oversee the planning of the event while federal, state and local resources can be utilised to ensure proper security measures are taken.

The significant step was recommended in the reports following the probes into the 2021 attacks that put legislators and citizens in danger as pro-Trump supporters broke into the Capitol building, claiming the election was stolen and threatening to harm individuals.

As numerous polls show, the presidential showdown between former president Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is going to be a close one, leaving the door ajar for speculation and a repeat of what transpired in 2021.

In 2020, after losing the election to President Joe Biden, Trump instigated his supporters alleging that the election had been stolen and falsely claimed victory. In response to his message, his supporters stormed the federal building in an unsuccessful bid to stop the certification of the election. Trump’s role in the instigation was investigated by a congressional panel and the former president was indicted for trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election results.