By William Caraccio
As the November 2020 general election to decide the United States Presidency approaches, the country finds itself in an unprecedented situation. With the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe, many of our most valued cultural practices have been put on hold. But where does this leave the country’s most important democratic event, the general election? With journalistic sensationalism and paranoia on the rise during this truly frightening “stay at home” period, a common apprehension regarding the fate of the election, especially during the Trump incumbency, has spread throughout the Democratic Party. Aware of Trump’s utter disregard for America’s political integrity, nervous Democrats across the country are all asking the same question: how far is he willing to go? Could Trump potentially postpone the presidential election, thereby giving himself more time in office? Joe Biden, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, seems to think so; “That’s the only way he thinks he can possibly win,” Biden confidently stated, just days after his opponent Bernie Sanders dropped out of the race for the Democratic nomination.
In a period characterized by extreme uncertainty, I write to provide those who fear Trump's political artifice with an unquestionable truth: unless the country rewrites its standing legislation from now to November (i'm not completely ruling this out), Trump will not succeed in his attempts to delay the presidential election. My unwavering certainty in support of this statement comes from federal statute, a federal law created by Congress. “The Tuesday next after the 1st Monday in November, in every even numbered year, is established as the day for the election.” Further, because of the strict separation of powers which exists in our governmental system, only Congress (both the House of Representatives and the Senate) have the ability to alter this date, providing a necessary check to the executive branch. And yes, some may argue that the Senate is controlled by Republicans that would do anything to see their party retain the Presidency. But for any change to be made, the House of Representatives must also agree to the decision—I can wholeheartedly declare that Nancy Pelosi would sooner die than see an extended Trump presidency come to pass.
So, while these trying times create a number of pressing matters to worry about, I assure you that Trump extending his presidency through tyrannical measures is not one of them.