Trump will attempt to delay the November 2020 election, says Biden

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Former VP Joe Biden warned that Pres. Donald Trump will attempt to postpone the November presidential election.
• To date, Trump has not made any comments that he wants to delay the election on Nov 3.
• Besides, under an 1845 law, a president has no power to postpone the presidential election, Congress has to intervene.

On Thursday, Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee, Joe Biden, said that he believes President Donald Trump will attempt to delay the presidential election in November.

“Mark my words, I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can’t be held,” Biden said during an online fundraiser.

The former vice president added: “Imagine threatening not to fund the post office. Now, what in God’s name is that about? Other than trying to let the word out that he’s going to do all he can to make it very hard for people to vote. That’s the only way he thinks he can possibly win.”

To date, the president has not made any suggestions that he wants to delay the November election. Besides, Trump has no power to do that unilaterally.

According to the Congressional Research Service, an 1845 law sets the date for all states to appoint presidential electors, “which represents the date by which voters in every state must cast their ballot.” Nothing in the Constitution or by Congress grants the president the power to postpone an election, NBC News reported.

“During previous episodes of war, pandemic, or other deadly crises in American history, the presidential election date has never been changed in response to an emergency,” the research service said.

Expanded mail-in voting is being pushed by some Democrats as a way to keep the safety of voters during the coronavirus epidemic, but Trump has already slammed the idea.

“Mail ballots — they cheat. OK? People cheat,” Trump said earlier this month. He added that “there’s a lot of dishonesty going along with mail-in voting.”

According to NBC News, the president’s arguments that mail-in voting would be riddled with fraud is an allegation based on a number of false or misleading claims.

The Trump campaign has not yet responded to Biden’s remarks after an email was sent early Friday, according to NBC News.

For Biden, the election must not be delayed but several states have already postponed primary elections amid the coronavirus crisis.

Earlier this month, Wisconsin held a controversial, in-person primary election after the state Supreme Court overturned the Gov. Tony Evers’ executive order to delay it. This prompted voters to wear masks and gloves while waiting in lines to vote.

According to Wisconsin officials, at least seven people seemed to have contracted the coronavirus through election-related activities.

Biden referenced the Wisconsin election and said that Congress needs to ensure funding for states to have more voting options for the general election, NBC News reported.

Source: AOL