Suppose Trump used the emergency powers to postpone the election

[jardiniere]

"The question isn't whether Trump has legal authority to move Election Day and thereby extend his presidency—he doesn't—but a different question: what happens if he just declares that he *does* have this power? And what if he can do so with a false *veneer* of legal legitimacy?"
And so Seth Abramson walks us through such a scenario.

Would you vote in November anyway?

 

[variant]

"The question isn't whether Trump has legal authority to move Election Day and thereby extend his presidency—he doesn't—but a different question: what happens if he just declares that he *does* have this power? And what if he can do so with a false *veneer* of legal legitimacy?"
And so Seth Abramson walks us through such a scenario.

Would you vote in November anyway?

The time would be better spent overthrowing our new dictator.

 

[GreatLakes4Ever]

"The question isn't whether Trump has legal authority to move Election Day and thereby extend his presidency—he doesn't—but a different question: what happens if he just declares that he *does* have this power? And what if he can do so with a false *veneer* of legal legitimacy?"
And so Seth Abramson walks us through such a scenario.

Would you vote in November anyway?

Vote anyways and hope enough of Trump’s idiotic followers believe him, don’t vote, and hand Biden an easy victory.

 

[SeventyOne]

They keep pushing this mail-in voting charade, he just might need to declare an emergency, or even martial law, and blame it on the fake pandemic if he needs to.

 

[Under One King]

I am a Trump supporter, but I really don't see a reason to postpone the election.

 

[Xenophon]

Would you vote in November anyway?

Wouldn't that depend on whether or on the local polls were open? Feel like we wouldn't get a say in it regardless of how it goes down.

 

[Hans Blaster]

"The question isn't whether Trump has legal authority to move Election Day and thereby extend his presidency—he doesn't—but a different question: what happens if he just declares that he *does* have this power? And what if he can do so with a false *veneer* of legal legitimacy?"
And so Seth Abramson walks us through such a scenario.

Would you vote in November anyway?

If the polling place is open, I will vote.

If it is not open, I will go to the board of elections and demand that they open it.

It is that simple.

 

[QvQ]

The Supreme Court ruled that Rhode Island could do vote by mail, not witness or notary because there wasn't any opposition. In Alabama, the Court stated that witnesses were needed because there was State opposition.
How voting is conducted is a State's right. That is why there is a Federal Voting Rights Act passed very late in the nation's history but that Federal imposition is limited in scope..
A State could, theoretically, suspend an election but the Federal Government cannot.
That is the basis of the Supreme Court decisions which seem to be contradictory but aren't.

 

[JackRT]

He might be able to make a case for a small delay in the actual election but the Constitution is very clear --- a president leaves office on January 6 and a new President (possibly the same person) takes office. He may have to be dragged kicking and screaming out of the Oval Office. This could trigger a national crisis.

 

[QvQ]

Wouldn't that depend on whether or on the local polls were open? Feel like we wouldn't get a say in it regardless of how it goes down.

Yes, How voting is conducted, when where and how is a up to the States. The Feds had to pass the Voting Rights Act to get any control over the process.
The States could, theoretically, cancel an election. The Feds cannot.
The States open the polls and pass out the ballots.
Most don't seem to understand the political process very well. Trump could cancel the election but only if the officials in the States do that. Trump knows that it was a suggestion, not a mandate like Biden/Harris mask "mandate."

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

As soon is I get my mail ballot. I plan to vote.

 

[TLK Valentine]

"The question isn't whether Trump has legal authority to move Election Day and thereby extend his presidency—he doesn't—but a different question: what happens if he just declares that he *does* have this power? And what if he can do so with a false *veneer* of legal legitimacy?"
And so Seth Abramson walks us through such a scenario.

Would you vote in November anyway?

What would happen? the Left would condemn it, the Right would rationalize it, and we'd usher in the reign of Donald I.

 

[TLK Valentine]

I am a Trump supporter, but I really don't see a reason to postpone the election.

Donald hasn't given you one yet.

 

[TLK Valentine]

As soon is I get my mail ballot. I plan to vote.

As good a reason as any to delay your ballot as long as the Establishment can...

 

[Nithavela]

Donald hasn't given you one yet.

Only because Fox & Friends haven't given him one yet.

 

[Albion]

...what happens if he just declares that he *does* have this power? And what if he can do so with a false *veneer* of legal legitimacy?"
And so Seth Abramson walks us through such a scenario.

Would you vote in November anyway?

Maybe little green men from Mars will land here and turn half of the population into salt.
Would you vote in November anyway?

Maybe Biden's people will overthrow the US government before election day and declare a "Peoples Republic."
Would you vote anyway?

Maybe all the candidates will mysteriously vanish before election day.
Would you vote in November anyway?



The point is that all manner of absurd speculation can be offered if we want to talk about things that are not real. We should be sticking to serious conversation on this "American Politics" forum, however; there are other forums for idle chatter, joking around, and so on.

 

[Hank77]

What would happen? the Left would condemn it, the Right would rationalize it, and we'd usher in the reign of Donald I.

No, on January 20, 2021 at 12:00 noon Senator Patrick Leahy would become the new Pro Temp of the Senate, temporarily filling in for the next President.

 

[Hank77]

Maybe little green men from Mars will land here and turn half of the population into salt.
Would you vote in November anyway?

Maybe Biden's people will overthrow the US government before election day and declare a "Peoples Republic."
Would you vote anyway?

Maybe all the candidates will mysteriously vanish before election day.
Would you vote in November anyway?



The point is that all manner of absurd speculation can be offered if we want to talk about things that are not real. We should be sticking to serious conversation on this "American Politics" forum, however; there are other forums for idle chatter, joking around, and so on.

I agree I can't see even these Republicans in Congress now playing along with any scenario like this.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

As good a reason as any to delay your ballot as long as the Establishment can...

CA. Isn't delaying mail ballot. Over Trump brainwashing attempt to bash mail voting.

 

[Sparagmos]

"The question isn't whether Trump has legal authority to move Election Day and thereby extend his presidency—he doesn't—but a different question: what happens if he just declares that he *does* have this power? And what if he can do so with a false *veneer* of legal legitimacy?"
And so Seth Abramson walks us through such a scenario.

Would you vote in November anyway?

That is terrifying. I hope all of the people commenting read the article. The fact that the states control voting wouldn’t stop the scenario presented.