US presidential elections: Donald Trump says he will concede defeat to Kamala Harris if…

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump cast his ballot on Tuesday in Florida for the 2024 presidential election. Speaking to reporters, Trump said he is ready to concede defeat if the “election results were fair”, but once again voiced concerns over the security of electronic voting systems (EVMs).

“If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I would be the first one to acknowledge it,” Trump stated. “So far, I think it’s been fair,” he added, as reported by news agency AFP. The former US president has repeatedly questioned the reliability of electronic voting machines, asserting that they may compromise election integrity compared to traditional paper ballots.

Track all Live Updates here

After months of vigorous campaigning from Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and her Republican opponent Donald Trump, Americans are finally heading to the polls to decide their next president.

With early voting breaking records, tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots either by mail or in person at polling stations. According to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, over 82 million votes were submitted ahead of election day, with various polls predicting a neck-and-neck contest, which leaves the electoral battle to the swing states to decide the fate of the White House.

During his conversation with the media, Trump criticised the use of voting machines, claiming that they not only inflate costs but also create delays in determining results. He argued that a return to paper ballots, along with measures such as voter ID, proof of citizenship, and single-day voting, would provide greater transparency and faster results.

“If they would use paper ballots, voter ID, proof of citizenship, and one-day voting, it would all be over by 10 o’clock in the evening. It’s crazy,” Trump said.

Advocating the security of paper ballots, Trump said, “Do you know that paper is more sophisticated now than computers? If it’s watermarked paper, you cannot cheat. It’s unbelievable what happens with it”. He also suggested that advancements in paper security make it “nearly impossible to manipulate election outcomes”.

When asked about potential unrest following the election results, Trump dismissed concerns, asserting that his supporters are “not violent people”. He asserted that there would be no violence, assuring the public of a peaceful atmosphere post-election.