Hyderabad: Even as the world is distraught by the worrying trends of global pandemic, the United States has been bothered about another critical question that has been plaguing its citizens: the Presidential elections due in November. Will it take place seamlessly or is it going to get postponed for the first time in the history of the country. Different options are being weighed to enable the voters cast their votes while maintaining the social distancing in times of coronavirus scare. What are the reasons that Trump is not showing preference to the same!!
Presidential Election .. “Kya..Corona”?
Will the US presidential elections be held in November this year, as usual? If it happens, how is it going to be conducted? The US presidential election, which will affect the entire world, should actually be held on November 3 this year. Along with the affects laid out by Corona, the comments being made by Donald Trump and his companions/camp are raising suspicions and interest in the presidential election in the wake of the racist protest movement that has flared up recently in America!
Read also: Biden's VP list narrows: Warren, Harris, Susan Rice, others
Constitution Position:
In America, any election can be postponed but not the presidential election. The reason is - the presidential election date is clearly set by the US Constitution. The US Constitution stipulates that four years after the President and Vice-President are sworn in, the immediate Tuesday after the first Monday of November of that particular year the new President and Vice-President are to be elected to the Electoral College.
- The constitution should be amended if a need arises to change this particular date. Even if Trump is willing it is questionable whether the House of Representatives will agree to it in an America dominated by the Democrats!! If the anti-Trump riots are ignored there is no other choice even for the Democrats but to support the postponement if there are worse conditions in which people cannot come out and vote because of Corona. Therefore, it entirely depends on the impact of the Covid epidemic on the country, whether or not a presidential election shall take place four months later, in the nation. If at all such a constitutional amendment is made, it will be sensational!
- Even if this happens, it is not possible for Donald Trump to remain in power until a new president arrived.
- According to the US Constitution – Presidential tenure of the United States of America s only 4 years, which expires on January 20th . It has nothing to do with the choice of newcomers. Even if Trump postpones the election this time (beyond January), he will have to step down on January 20 , 2021 , as per the US constitution! If there are no elections yet, the House of Representatives (Congress) will elect a new president, Senate-Vice President (temporarily)! If the elections are not held before the end of the term of Congress, then the responsibility of electing the president is up to the Senate (which is like our Rajya Sabha). However, all of this has never happened in American history.
Son-In-Law’s Word..
Former Vice President of the US, Biden, who is emerging as Trump's strongest opponent, said last month - "Watch out!... it shall not be a surprising fact if Trump tries to postpone the election by doing or saying something" Though Trump reacted negatively on the comment, the latest statement from the White House Advisor, Kushner, who happens to be none other than Trump’s son-in-law, saying - "I don't know for sure, but the upcoming elections seem likely to be postponed due to the Corona impact on the nation!!”, has no doubt created certain confusion in the US political circles.
Read also: World joins US protests but leaders restrained about Trump
In addition to the same, irrespective of the impact and situations created by Corona after 4 months from now, the current political and social situation in the US is arousing curiosity amongst the US citizens along with the rest of the world, as to the strategy that would be undertaken by the Trump’s camp, to tackle the upcoming situation. People are curios to find out what the US Constitution says about the presidential election and if it is possible to postpone elections? Everyone is busy trying to excavate the history of US to see if such case was a compliance of the past!
Trump doesn’t want Democrats to be encouraged
Even if Corona explodes aggressively, there are opportunities in the US that can manage to organize the upcoming elections. Procedures such as Absentee ballot, mail-in-voting, and pre-voting, in addition to general voting, have some advantages. Votes can be sent by post without standing in heavy queues.
Many of such procedures are already a part of the American election process. But they are only used in specific cases and for certain purposes. Democrats suggest that mail-in voting should be applied to everyone, without anyone coming to the polling station and voting. But Republicans, especially incumbent President Donald Trump, are not willing to apply this method to everyone.
“These methods are good for the elderly, for the disabled and for military personnel who cannot come home. But mail-in ballot for all the common people is just as manipulative! Lots of fraud can happen in this manner. There is a danger of manipulation in the system of mail ballots.
If everyone practices such fraudulent methods, then the Republican Party may never come to power in America anymore. Hence, we oppose this” Trump said. Moreover, the terms of ‘mail-in voting’ and ‘absentee voting’ are similar in each state. So it is impossible to say to what extent this will result. Against this backdrop, the electoral fortunes will depend on how the Corona boom in America will be felt four months later.
Absentee ballot
Absentee ballot is just like our postal ballot. This opportunity can be availed by posting in case the voter is unable to go physically to the polling station for casting his vote on the specified Election Day.
Mail-in polling
A pre-ballot will be sent by post. After taking it, the voter will have to cast their vote at the nearest polling station. Or it can be sent by post too.
Early voting
This is an opportunity provided to the voters where they can cast their vote well in advance rather than voting on the polling day. All these methods work differently in different states. To vote, a registered voter must first state the reasons for preferring this voting system and able grounds required for such a vote. This can take place only after being approved by the relevant election officer.
What does history say?
- Until now, the US presidential election was never postponed.
- Presidential elections did not stop even during World War I and also during the most critical 1864 civil war, which posed a big challenge to American instability.
