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US midterm elections 2018
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Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest outside the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office in Lauderhill, Florida, on Monday18. Florida's Senate and governor's races have gone to a recount that will decide two key offices in the largest US swing state, setting off outcries from Republicans led by Trump and Rick Scott, the state's governor now vying to be a US Senator. Photo: Bloomberg

Donald Trump says Democrats wearing disguises voted twice and cost Republicans victory in midterm elections

  • Trump claimed without evidence that voters ‘put on a different hat, put on a different shirt, come in and vote again’

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Democrats wearing disguises and voting more than once were responsible for Republican losses in tight congressional elections.

“The Republicans do not win and that is because of potentially illegal votes,” Trump was quoted as saying by right-wing website The Daily Caller.

Final results have yet to be declared in multiple races following last week’s midterm polls, with tense recounts underway in Florida.

US President Donald Trump participates in a ceremonial lighting of the Diya for the holiday of Diwali in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington on Tuesday. Photo: EPA

The midterm races for governor and senator in the politically important state are so close that recounts are obligatory. Republican Rick Scott was ahead of incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson by just 50.1 to 49.9 per cent, according to the latest unofficial count.

Democrats have accused Republicans of manoeuvring to prevent full vote tallies, while Trump told The Daily Caller that voter fraud had tipped the contest into chaos.

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Trump claimed, without providing any evidence, that blatant use of fake voters in disguise had swung close elections.

“When people get in line that have absolutely no right to vote and they go around in circles. Sometimes they go to their car, put on a different hat, put on a different shirt, come in and vote again. Nobody takes anything. It’s really a disgrace what’s going on,” Trump said.

Republicans have pushed hard for tighter rules requiring voters to show identification when they come to cast ballots. Democrats have resisted, arguing that the number of false voters is minuscule and that demanding IDs would have the effect of suppressing turnout, especially of poorer black Americans, in favour of the Republicans.

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Trump shot back, saying that any ordinary shopper already carried documents that could be used at a polling station.

“If you buy a box of cereal – you have a voter ID,” he was quoted as saying.

“They try to shame everybody by calling them racist, or calling them something, anything they can think of, when you say you want voter ID,” he said.

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