While the recent U.S. presidential election was largely smooth, with high voter turnout and minimal disruptions, experts are raising alarms over growing foreign interference and the rise of misinformation aimed at undermining public trust in the electoral system. This trend is expected to escalate in the coming years, experts say.

In the months leading up to the election, Russia, China, and Iran increased their use of English-language disinformation campaigns targeting American voters. Federal officials warned that these adversaries sought to exploit social media platforms and fake websites to sow doubts about election integrity and stir political chaos. Notably, Russia was active in spreading staged videos intended to damage the reputations of Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The Kremlin also paid a Tennessee media company nearly nine million euros to produce pro-Russian content.

“Russia clearly interfered in this election,” said Brian Taylor, a political science professor at Syracuse University. “Their goal was to create division and chaos, though there is no evidence that their activities altered the election outcome.”

Experts argue that foreign adversaries, especially Russia, are playing a long game. Their aim is not only to influence elections but also to undermine American democracy and weaken the U.S. over time. “What Russia is trying to do is steer the United States in a particular direction, regardless of who wins the election,” said Emerson Brooking, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.

Both Russia and China have denied involvement in U.S. election meddling. Nevertheless, federal agencies, including the FBI, acted swiftly to identify and debunk false claims, such as a viral video alleging voter fraud in Georgia. Steve Simon, president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, praised the federal response, highlighting the importance of quick action to limit the spread of disinformation.

Despite these efforts, the problem of foreign interference persists. Kim Wyman, former head of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, warned that such attempts would continue in future elections. “This election demonstrated that foreign adversaries are still trying to influence U.S. elections,” she said.

On Election Day itself, the most significant challenge came in the form of bomb threats reported in five battleground states, which briefly disrupted some polling places. Despite this, the election proceeded largely as expected, with high turnout and relatively few technical issues. The widespread use of early voting, which saw over 84 million ballots cast, helped alleviate pressure on Election Day and ensured election workers had time to handle unexpected challenges.

David Becker, head of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, praised early voting efforts, noting that it helped mitigate some of the threats that emerged. Election officials across the country were also well-prepared for emergencies, with extensive training and coordination with law enforcement in the months leading up to Election Day.

“The system held up well under pressure,” said Carolina Lopez, a former election official. “Professionals knew exactly what to do when the unexpected happened.”