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The president of the United States, Donald Trump (74), tested positive for the corona virus. Apparently he is still in a position to participate in a conference call. But what if Donald Trump falls seriously ill or even dies? It depends on! And also of the crucial data of the electoral campaign of the United States. BLICK explains the 5 scenarios.
1. Trump thank you before November 3 heavy
A complicated scenario. Republicans could possibly nominate a replacement candidate for the 2020 US elections, likely to be Vice President Mike Pence (61). He would also run the administration until Trump is back in shape. Republicans could also count on Trump to recover and leave his name on the ballot.
The presidential election could also be postponed by the United States Congress or even canceled. Because: According to the constitution, US elections are not mandatory! In theory, there is no need for a popular vote on November 3 for the election of the president of the United States: each state could decide for itself how it chooses its electorate. December 14 is important, when the constitution establishes that all 530 voters must cast their vote.
On December 14, the 530 voters (“Electoral College”) of Donald Trump or Joe Biden (77) must go to the respective state capitals and cast their vote. For example, if Biden wins Michigan, then Biden’s electorate will go to the state capital, Lansing, and vote on December 14. (Read more about this in the interview with American legal expert Lawrence Douglas)
If the US Congress postpones the November 3 presidential election or skips it, it should ensure that at least new deputies and senators are elected, because the US Congress term expires on November 3. January 2021 according to the constitution. The new Congress of the United States will be sworn in on January 3 and will have to count the votes of the electorate three days later.
2. Trump dies before November 3
The parties are primed for this scenario: Republicans would name a backup candidate, presumably Vice President Mike Pence, to take Donald Trump’s place.
3. Trump thank you after november 3
Things get complicated here too. Republicans could nominate a replacement candidate before the Electoral College election date. However, from a democratic point of view, that would be controversial, as the voters did not vote for it (“popular vote”).
Presumably, Republicans would hope that Trump was back in shape in time for a possible swearing-in. However, it would be questionable how the Trump electorate would behave if they became seriously ill; in at least 24 states they are not subject to the will of the voters.
4. Trump dies after november 3
Here the protocol is clear. If Trump dies between the US elections (November 3) and the electorate election (November 14), the Republicans will nominate a substitute candidate; usually Vice President Mike Pence just gets promoted.
However: this is also controversial from a democratic point of view because the voters (“popular vote”) did not vote directly for him. Nor is there any law that requires the electorate to vote for the alternate candidate. Trump voters could also vote for a third candidate or even Joe Biden.
If Trump wins the US elections and dies only after the votes have been counted by the United States Congress on January 6, 2021, the matter becomes crystal clear again: then he would already be “president-elect,” the “vice president” would take over. chooses “Mike Pence.
However, it is not clear whether Trump will also be considered president-elect before January 6. Because it has never happened in American history that the winner of the American election dies before being sworn in, the United States Congress never had to define when the automatic succession plan would take effect.
That means: if Trump wins the election, but dies after the electorate’s election (December 14) but before the United States Congress counts (January 6), the United States Congress would have to decide whether to count. Trump’s votes – and automatic succession plan goes into effect (Mike Pence would be sworn in).
If the United States Congress does not count Trump’s votes, it could elect Joe Biden as president, but only if he has a majority of the votes of the 530 electorate.
5. Nancy Pelosi is sworn in
A new president must be sworn in on January 20, 2021. If all else fails, the top Democrat has to act. If the United States Congress does not appoint a president by January 20, or if Donald Trump and Mike Pence become seriously ill or even die around this date, the speaker of the House of Representatives could be sworn in.
What you need to know about the 2020 U.S. elections.
Who can even run for president of the United States? How do you become president? And how does the voting process work? VIEW answers the most important questions about the American elections.
What do donkeys and elephants represent in American politics? And the October surprise? BLICK explains an ABC of important terms and facts for the November 3 US election.
