Democratic electoral systems across the world differ and can be complicated but at their heart is a simple truth: whoever gets the most votes, wins.
This is what happens in the US election – whoever wins the most votes in the electoral college, is president.
And in order to know who has the most votes, people must count them.
Unfortunately, incumbent president Donald Trump doesn’t seem to quite get this, which is perhaps why he has been so thrown by seeing the change in the election race as more votes are tallied up.
It’s why in some places where he is trailing rival Joe Biden, like Arizona, he’s demanding more votes are counted.
But in others, like Michigan, where Biden was announced victor, Trump issued commands to stop counting the votes.
Right then.
And his supporters have heard him.
Terrifying video shows pro-Trump demostrators turning up to election offices in Detroit, Michigan and demanding that they “stop the count”.
Election challengers shout “Stop the count” as poll workers count absentee ballots in #Detroit, Michigan in the 202… https://t.co/Hisk2c3F97— Salwan Georges (@Salwan Georges) 1604525333
Officials were counting absentee ballots but the Trump campaign said they’d launched a legal challenge to pause the process after claiming they’d not been provided “meaningful access” to vote counting locations.
Protesters also tried to force their way into the building but were blocked by guards.
#BREAKING: Large, animated crush of “stop the count” protestors trying to push their way into TCF hall in #Detroit… https://t.co/O6g613nXGX— Steve Patterson (@Steve Patterson) 1604521719
Despite the efforts of the demonstrators, Michigan was later (fairly) declared for Joe Biden.
And videos circulating of the bizarre showing quickly got the meme treatment.
me shouting at my book whenever mr poe refused to help the baudelaires https://t.co/ov9aGg9Ez7— marianne eloise (@marianne eloise) 1604578163
Nostalgia featured.
Me on phone to Xfactor when I knew Jedward were going to be bottom two https://t.co/6sdLf3fAVJ— Elise Rennárt🇧🇪 (@Elise Rennárt🇧🇪) 1604540683
While people couldn’t believe the scenes were real.
I literally cannot understand the logic behind this?? Why would they stop counting legal ballots? https://t.co/rZngmi4GOe— ashtray stan account (@ashtray stan account) 1604536843
Sadly they are.
What happens next is anyone’s guess...