I’d be happy if it were COVID-19

it was

Do not underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

It's going to be more technically legal means that everyone had considered unthinkable previously.

The most likely tactic now seems to be coordinating with Republican state legislators who control half a dozen battleground states. The U.S. presidential election was always an outmoded clusterfuck that leaves way more up to them than most people had realized.

They could theoretically pick fanatic Trumpee electors who'll all buck their state's popular vote.

They could cut the state's count short and declare it for Trump on election night when in-person ballots put him ahead, throwing out bullshit excuses that they can't wait for mail-in to be counted ("The American people deserve a swift resolution blah blah fart").

They could pull a LeJoy and intentionally muck up the system so that neither candidate reaches 270 and a contingent election goes to the House, which Trump will guaranteed win.

Another Brooks Brothers Riot is all but certain with their new "poll watchers", this time in multiple states, and this time with crazed armed militias instead of Roger Stone's suited paid operatives. That is where any violence will come from.

All the above victories would be technically legal enough for the military to accept it.

Yea, Ok, but also, do not underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups. That's what happened last time, remember.

You could maintain the fantasy of the military still being largely a force that believes in democratic constitutional government (at least in America) but since 9/11 the need for warm bodies has let a lot of dumb radicals and outright neo-nazis into the ranks.

Nominal, many states have laws against faithless electors, which had recently been upheld by the supreme court. I guess those states could work to do away with those laws.

Solro, recent poll says only 37% of military plans to vote for Trump.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/08/3 1/as-trumps-popularity-slips-in-latest-military-times-poll-more-tr oops-say-theyll-vote-for-biden/

They're just going to disqualify mail in ballots, he's been openly broadcasting that for months before outright saying it in no uncertain terms on TV the other day.

Our esteemed former golem... I mean "Governor" and current Senator Rick Scott has pushed forward legislation to disregard any mail-in or absentee ballots not counted within 24 hours of the election.

The good news is all this attacking the ballot itself may generate valuable blowback. It’s causing Dems to vote as early as they can (I voted!). It’s turning off the same Latin American conservatives Trump’s cronies were trying to court, many of whom are all to aware of that language from tinpot dictators in South America.

These are certainly the times that try men’s souls.

Only 15 states allow for any sort of penalty for faithless electors (sometimes only a fine), and the supreme court cases only ALLOW the states to remove faithless electors. States still have the power to appoint whoever they want, and there is no automatic removal.