The Economist.

In Petikote's,

In petticoats, voluminous skirts and tight corsets, the voters stepped into the poll. It was

a voluminous skirt and tight courtsets.

It wasn't an unusual sight.

Early 19th century New Jersey was notably progressive

when it came to the franchise and allowed some women as well as free

African American men to vote. But look closer at the women voters and something was up.

Above the empire waistlines and below the bonnets were suspiciously male faces.

Or at least, this is what the local Republican Party claimed.

Women were more likely to vote Federalist and so the

opposition said that many female voters were in fact men who'd voted once then

changed into drag to vote again. Republicans used the accusations of voter fraud

to disenfranchise the women of New Jersey.

It's a move that would fit into the MAGA playbook.

Donald Trump falsely claimed that the 2020 election was stolen,

and he's likely to do it again if he loses this November.

With 46 days to go until the 2024 election.

I'm John Prido and this is checks and balance from the economist.

Each week we take one big theme shaping American politics and explore it in depth.

Today, what will happen if the election is contested?

Republicans are already preparing to challenge the results if

...