America's voting system to face its reckoning in November

Like his demands for state governors to reopen their economies and his threats to strip funding from schools that refuse to return to in-person learning, Trump doesn't have the authority to change the election date.

Four Republican election officials wrote in Politico this week: "Without necessary additional funding from Congress, we run the risk of delayed or contested election results, long lines and crowding that threaten the safety of voters and poll workers, and limited voting access to rural voters, seniors and veterans.".

Election officials in New York this week released the final results for their state's primary - five weeks after election day.

Election analyst Dave Wasserman has pointed out that absentee ballots are rejected at higher rates than those cast in person.

Studies show that younger voters and voters of colour, usually reliable Democrats, are much more likely to cast mail ballots that are rejected.

This could be a big problem in states where voters and election officials are unaccustomed to postal voting.

Postal ballots also take longer to count, meaning the result may not be known until well after polling day.

"I don't want to have to wait for three months and then find out the ballots are all missing and the election doesn't mean anything," Trump said

If the ballots of Democratic voters are rejected en masse they could launch their own legal challenge