Elizabeth Eck ’22
The 2020 presidential election is proving to be a contentious one. The country remains divided on issues such as healthcare, the economy, and environmental change, but what many Americans didn’t anticipate to be included in the issues was the deadly pandemic, the death of a prominent justice on the Supreme Court, and social justice protests. As the election approaches, America is even further divided in its support of the candidates. According to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll, Joe Biden is leading in the polls with 53% of registered voters, as Donald Trump follows with 42%. How the candidates choose to adjust their campaign strategies will be apparent in the following weeks.
President Trump has notably been relaxed with current CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19, as his campaign rallies often feature supporters sitting much closer than six feet apart. He also hosted an event in the Rose Garden at the White House where many people were maskless and sitting in close proximity, leading to many catching the virus. On the other hand, Biden has taken a different approach. For instance, he has chosen to host drive-in campaign rallies where supporters can sit inside their cars and honk at statements for approval, rather than cheer or clap. As for presidential debates, the two candidates participated in an in-person debate. President Trump, having rejected the virtual format for the second debate proposed after he contracted the virus, has moved to attending a virtual town hall. Biden is conducting one of these, as well. Among the factors deciding the results of the presidential election this year are the key battleground states, such as Michigan, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Both candidates have been campaigning in these states in order to ensure they win the states’ electoral college votes.
A key component to this election cycle is the mail-in ballots. Due to the pandemic, most people are casting their ballots by mail. Fears of voter fraud and rejected ballots have led many Americans to carefully fill out their ballots, and some even go so far as to accompany them to the ballot box. In addition, Trump’s assertion that he plans to challenge the results, if he should lose, has added fears, as well. According to the Associated Press, Trump has made a number of claims regarding mail-in ballots, including one that in New York, where some ballots have been mailed out to voters with errors, the primary race won by Representative Carolyn Mahoney is a fraud. Rep. Mahoney did win the race legitimately, despite the ballot errors.
At the forefront of everyone’s mind is the Supreme Court vacancy. After Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, Trump nominated Amy Coney Barrett, a judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. However, Democrats are opposed to her confirmation, claiming that if Barrett were to be confirmed, it would be a sham appointment. It should be noted that when Justice Antonin Scalia died before the 2016 election, President Obama relegated the appointment to the next president; therefore, Democrats believe that it would be prudent for Trump to do the same.
The 2020 presidential election will most likely take several twists and turns before we reach the end of it, but for now, Americans will have to weigh the positives and negatives of each candidate while casting their mail-in ballots.