Why Everyone’s Talking About the 2020 Election

Americans hold a presidential election every four years, but this year’s contest has turned out to be anything but business as usual.

In previous elections, most states had already held their primaries or caucuses by this point. (These state-by-state elections help determine the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees.) Meanwhile, the presidential candidates were busy crisscrossing the nation, holding rallies and meeting as many voters as possible. 

But this spring, amid fears over the deadly coronavirus pandemic, more than a dozen states have postponed their primaries—many pushing the contests back until June. In addition, traditional campaigning has all but stopped. 

Although the primaries are not over, U.S. President Donald Trump is almost certain to be the Republican nominee. He is running for reelection. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to be the Democratic nominee. The other Democratic candidates dropped out. 

Normally, the parties formally present their nominees at their national conventions, which are both now slated for August. But experts say precautions against the coronavirus could force the groups to hold virtual gatherings instead. 

How else could the coronavirus pandemic affect the upcoming election? Here’s what you need to know.

Americans hold a presidential election every four years. But this year’s contest has turned out to be anything but business as usual.

In previous elections, most states had already held their primaries or caucuses by this point. (These state-by-state elections help determine the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees.) Meanwhile, the presidential candidates were busy crisscrossing the nation. They were holding rallies and meeting as many voters as possible.

But this spring, more than a dozen states have postponed their primaries. They have done so because of fears over the deadly coronavirus pandemic. Many states have pushed the contests back until June. In addition, traditional campaigning has all but stopped.

Although the primaries are not over, U.S. President Donald Trump is almost certain to be the Republican nominee. He is running for reelection. Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is expected to be the Democratic nominee. The other Democratic candidates dropped out.

Normally, the parties formally present their nominees at their national conventions. Both conventions are now slated for August. But experts say precautions against the coronavirus could force the groups to hold virtual gatherings instead.

How else could the coronavirus pandemic affect the upcoming election? Here is what you need to know.

Technically, yes. Federal law sets Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (This year, that is November 3.) But Congress could pass a new statute to change the date, as long as a majority of U.S. representatives and senators agree.

Experts say a postponement of the contest is extremely unlikely though. Election Day has stayed the same for nearly 175 years—even during times of war. “The basic business of government has to go on,” says Nicholas Stephanopoulos, an election law professor at Harvard Law School in Massachusetts. 

Plus, even if lawmakers postpone the election, they can’t push it back very far. That’s because after Americans cast their ballots on Election Day, by law the president must be officially selected based on those results on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December. This year, that falls on December 14. 

While Congress could pass a law delaying that December 14 date, one deadline is nearly impossible to change: Inauguration Day. The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution sets January 20 as the date when the outgoing president must step down and the incoming president must take office. (Presidents must be sworn in even if they are starting a second term.) If a president has not yet been elected, the Senate must pick someone to serve until voters elect one—but that has never happened. 

Technically, yes. Federal law sets Election Day as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. (This year, that is November 3.) But Congress could pass a new statute to change the date. A majority of U.S. representatives and senators would have to agree.

Experts say that putting off the contest is extremely unlikely though. Election Day has stayed the same for nearly 175 years. It has even stayed the same during times of war. “The basic business of government has to go on,” says Nicholas Stephanopoulos. He is an election law professor at Harvard Law School in Massachusetts.

Plus, even if lawmakers postpone the election, they cannot push it back very far. Americans cast their ballots on Election Day. By law the president must be officially selected based on those results on the first Monday after the second Wednesday of December. This year, that falls on December 14.

Congress could pass a law delaying that December 14 date. But one deadline is nearly impossible to change. That is Inauguration Day. The 20th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution sets January 20 as the date when the outgoing president must step down and the incoming president must take office. (Presidents must be sworn in even if they are starting a second term.) If a president has not yet been elected, the Senate must pick someone to serve until voters elect one. But that has never happened.

Traditional voting may still be an option, with limits on how many people can enter polling places at once. And some states may let people cast ballots in person in the days leading up to Election Day. Spreading out voting could cut down on the spread of the virus, experts say. 

However, many Americans will vote by mail-in or absentee ballot, Stephanopoulos predicts. (Absentee voters request and submit ballots—in person or by mail—before Election Day.) Those options are available in most states. A handful of states, including Oregon and Washington, conduct elections entirely by mail. And nearly two-thirds let residents vote by absentee ballot for any reason. Still, some states permit absentee ballots in specific situations only—such as if voters will be away on Election Day—in part because of the extra costs of printing and counting such ballots. 

Traditional voting may still be an option, with limits on how many people can enter polling places at once. And some states may let people cast ballots in person in the days leading up to Election Day. Spreading out voting could cut down on the spread of the virus, experts say.

However, many Americans will vote by mail-in or absentee ballot, Stephanopoulos predicts. (Absentee voters ask for and submit ballots, in person or by mail, before Election Day.) Those options are available in most states. A handful of states conduct elections entirely by mail. Oregon and Washington are two of those states. And nearly two-thirds of states let residents vote by absentee ballot for any reason. Still, some states allow absentee ballots in specific situations only, such as if voters will be away on Election Day. This is in part because of the extra costs of printing and counting such ballots.

Handshakes, rallies, and posing for selfies with potential supporters are usually staples of presidential campaigns. But social distancing guidelines necessary to slow the spread of the coronavirus have made those traditional methods taboo—at least for now. 

“The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way this campaign is currently running,” says Richard L. Hasen, a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine. For example, he points out, “you can’t have candidate supporters going door to door” to encourage people to vote. 

When this issue went to press, Biden and Trump had both canceled in-person campaign events, opting instead for virtual town halls and an increased presence on social media and the internet. Biden had even installed a TV studio in his home.

The situation has also shifted what the candidates—and voters—are talking about. Last fall, the presidential hopefuls mostly debated health care and immigration. Now they are focused on the pandemic and its disastrous effects on the U.S. economy.  

Handshakes, rallies, and posing for selfies with potential supporters are usually staples of presidential campaigns. But social distancing guidelines needed to slow the spread of the coronavirus have made those traditional methods taboo. Or at least they are for now.

“The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way this campaign is currently running,” says Richard L. Hasen. He is a professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine. For example, he points out, “you can’t have candidate supporters going door to door” to encourage people to vote.

When this issue went to press, Biden and Trump had both canceled in-person campaign events. Instead, they chose to do virtual town halls. And they increased their presence on social media and the internet. Biden had even installed a TV studio in his home.

The situation has also changed what both the candidates and voters are talking about. Last fall, the presidential hopefuls mostly debated health care and immigration. Now they are focused on the pandemic and its disastrous effects on the U.S. economy.

The election might seem far off, especially when everyone’s focused on what’s going to happen with the pandemic in the coming weeks. But experts say the current health crisis underscores exactly why the contest matters. The president, along with state and local officials, is making decisions about the nation’s medical response and the extent to which Americans should avoid contact with people outside their immediate families. 

Such decisions can impact Americans’ lives, educations, and jobs. That’s why it is key to learn how each candidate’s views align with your own and to vote accordingly, says Lynn Vavreck, a political science professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. 

“Different presidents are going to have different ideas,” she says. “And those ideas could affect people’s lives and people’s health.”  

The election might seem far off, especially when everyone is focused on what is going to happen with the pandemic in the coming weeks. But experts say the current health crisis underscores exactly why the contest matters. The president, along with state and local officials, is making big decisions. He is deciding what the nation’s medical response should be. He is also deciding how far Americans should go in avoiding contact with people outside their immediate families.

Such decisions can impact Americans’ lives, educations, and jobs. That is why it is key to learn how each candidate’s views line up with your own. It is important to vote accordingly, says Lynn Vavreck. She is a political science professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Different presidents are going to have different ideas,” she says. “And those ideas could affect people’s lives and people’s health.”