Can Trump delay the election in Nov. 2020?
This election year, we are faced with an unprecedented series of events. Between the rising spread of COVID-19, and its haphazard management in the United States press and news, people have felt discouraged when it comes to voting. But this problem isn’t a new issue in the United States voting history. National problems before an election period have proved problematic in history before, and some people have felt worried that in the most drastic situation Donald Trump could cancel or delay the election in November.
This issue, while indeed worrying, may be induced by the onset pandemic that is being encouraged by Donald Trumps’ press meetings. Since his most recent press meeting where he has announced a National Emergency (but has not shown or allowed for proper prevention tactics of COVID-19 during these press releases), it seems that it has only continued to perpetuate fear and misconception of the COVID-19 spread.
While some have worried that the election could be postponed, there are specific statutes in our constitution that prevent this from happening (Holden 2020). The first is that Congress sets up specific “times, places and manners” for federal elections. In the specific citation, it states, “on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President” (Holden 2020). And additionally, if Congress did want to rewrite when the election would take place (which could be done), this could not overextend the authority of the President after 4 years. There is no holdover for power in the presidency. The most important thing in regards to voting with COVID-19 in mind is that it’s important to remember the laws that have been set in place, that take into consideration additional circumstances.
This issue, while indeed worrying, may be induced by the onset pandemic that is being encouraged by Donald Trumps’ press meetings. Since his most recent press meeting where he has announced a National Emergency (but has not shown or allowed for proper prevention tactics of COVID-19 during these press releases), it seems that it has only continued to perpetuate fear and misconception of the COVID-19 spread.
While some have worried that the election could be postponed, there are specific statutes in our constitution that prevent this from happening (Holden 2020). The first is that Congress sets up specific “times, places and manners” for federal elections. In the specific citation, it states, “on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in every fourth year succeeding every election of a President and Vice President” (Holden 2020). And additionally, if Congress did want to rewrite when the election would take place (which could be done), this could not overextend the authority of the President after 4 years. There is no holdover for power in the presidency. The most important thing in regards to voting with COVID-19 in mind is that it’s important to remember the laws that have been set in place, that take into consideration additional circumstances.
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