Democrats AND Republicans have rare bipartisan moment in rejecting Trump’s election delay suggestion
DEMOCRATS and Republicans have had a rare bipartisan moment in rejecting Donald Trump's election delay suggestion.
The president reasoned on Thursday morning that pushing back the upcoming would be safer and more secure for American voters.
However, Trump does not have the power to change the election date.
Trump's comments came as:
- The United States reported an
- The will not be leaving
- Barack Obama
- Pelosi orders coronavirus
"I haven't looked into that question, under the Constitution," the Attorney General replied.
The US has never before postponed a presidential election - even during the Civil War and the pandemic of 1918.
"'The Congress may determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same throughout the United States.'"
In Senator Lamar Alexander's comments, he reminded reporters that if a president is not elected by January 20, Pelosi would take the position by default.
"If we were to delay the election past January 20, the president would be the speaker of the House," he said.
"We still are a country based on the rule of law, we must follow the law until either the Constitution is changed or until the law is changed."
During his weekly press conference, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said "no way" should the election be delayed.
He tweeted: "There will be no delay in the #2020Election. Congress sets the election date, and it should not be changed.
"It will be held on November 3rd, as planned and required by law."
Senator Lindsey Graham simply said that he does not thinking moving the election would be a "particularly good idea."
Senator Mitt Romney said that he is a "fan of voting by mail" and added that "of course we are going to have an election on time.
"It's unthinkable that that would not be the case."
The president has and has vented his distrust for the mail-in voting system on social media this week.
On Tuesday, he warned users that "Mail-In Voting, unless changed by the courts, will lead to the most CORRUPT ELECTION in our Nation's History! #RIGGEDELECTION."
"Rigged Election. I told you so. Same thing would happen, but on massive scale, with USA. Fake News refuses to report!"
"Even beyond that, there's no accurate count!"
Earlier this month, claimed that if he loses the presidential election to rival .
Speaking to Trevor Noah on , she said a loss could see the US president try to undermine the legitimacy of the election.
Clinton said: "I think it is a fair point to raise as to whether or not, if he loses, he’s going to go quietly or not.
"And we have to be ready for that."
After winning the Electoral College, but not the popular vote in 2016, he claimed millions of had voted illegally.
He has said that voting by post "increases the risk of " and allows people to "cheat."
Trump also tweeted in May this year: "There is no way (zero!) that mail-in ballots will be anything less than substantially fraud.
"Mail boxes will be robbed, ballots will be forged and even illegally printed out and fraudulently signed.
"The Governor of California is sending ballots to millions of people, anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there, will get one.
"That will be followed up with professionals telling all of these people, many of whom have never even thought of voting before, how, and for whom, to vote. This will be a rigged election. No way!"
But voting fraud is rare - and Trump’s push for in-person voting during the pandemic contradicts guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which urges people to socially distance and to avoid crowds of more than 10 people.
Former President has also slammed Trump’s argument that postal votes would lead to widespread fraud.
He tweeted: “Voting by mail shouldn’t be a partisan issue - especially during a pandemic.
“Everybody should be able to request an absentee ballot, and make their voice heard in every election.”