If a candidate with 49% or maybe 47% of the vote wins an election is it the end of democracy? No, because election law, the constitution, and the laws of geography regularly distort democracy, put a thumb on the scale without eliminating the power of the public to decide what is right or wrong for our country.

Let’s say that President Trump wins the 2024 election due to the technicalities of the electoral system, such as the Electoral College. He won it, he will be President for the next four years. Good for him and those who embrace his policies. He might have legal protection for his official acts but he’s still subject to whims of public opinion and the Congress and the judiciary. Only they can give him the funding and enable specific acts through the law. Law doesn’t create power, it enables it.

If Trump or any president becomes too much of a blow hard, they’re likely to be rebuffed by the courts and congress. To say nothing of the states. Many things states do in their relationship with other states and the feds is voluntary, it’s done because of a common interest not because they’re forced to work together. And if that’s not enough in four years they’re up for election and after their second term, they’re gone. Presidential terms and elections are set in clear language in the constitution .

If the 51% or 53% are unhappy about the election results, then they need to win over some more votes, and if it takes 52% or 56% for them to have a majority then they just need to win over some more votes. Tough turkey for the political party that has to work slightly harder to win over a bit more support in the rigged election. If the other side is truly doing bad, they’ll win it.