Yes. It happened again. On a day when the news should have been focusing on a big story like , say, a significant White House brokered economic/peace deal involving Israel and Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, or Serbia or on the day that a report was released indicating that a $3.5 million deposit went into the checking account of a presidential candidate's relative by a Russian asset, a reporter stole the spotlight with a conveniently timed question about possible US election turmoil - during a press conference about vehicle production.
And, President Trump, who has made himself more available to the press than any other Chief Executive, gave the media its headline. He said, 'get rid of the ballots and we'll have a very peaceful - there won't be a transfer - quite frankly there will be a continuation.'
Cue the chaos: 'President Trump Refuses To Commit To Peaceful Transition Of Power' blared the headlines on CNN.
President Trump has questioned the potential legitimacy of the upcoming Nov 3rd General Election. This stems from the process of unsolicited universal ballots sent by various states to every registered voter. This is unlike Pennsylvania where a registered voter must request the ballot. If states are flooding the markets with ballots then it will be a legal, illogical mess that will be fought and untangled in court for months.
In New Jersey's alone nearly 41,000 mail-in ballots were rejected Following July's primary. That is 2.8% of the vote! Multiply that by 51 for November.
Democrats are rallying and angling for the fight, as well. The 2016 presidential runner-up offered advice to this year's Democrat contender. "Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances, because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don't give an inch,' Hillary Clinton said in August while appearing on Showtime's 'The Circus.'
Nine states and the District of Columbia automatically mass-mail ballots to registered voters. Pennsylvania voters must request their ballot. Mail-in voting is a bit complicated. It is a longer process with more hands touching each ballot. There will be errors, omissions, delays, and controversies. Although I do not believe the US Postal Service will be overwhelmed by one additional piece of mail from each voter.
An investigation is underway in Pennsylvania after 9 'Uniformed Military & Overseas Voter' ballots were found in a trash bin. Seven of which were marked for Donald Trump. This is only 9 ballots - but is it indicative of a larger, systemic problem? And, how could a small amount of discarded votes affect 'down ballot' races?
Oregon has been all mail-in since 2000. It claims that only 1/100 thousandth of one percent of ballots are fraudulent.
The Electronic Registration Information Center claims only 372 cases of double or deceased voting in the last two general elections. Everyone one else in the US is completely honest.
Now, as far as people getting upset over the transition of power? Don't get sucked into the drama. The current term ends Jan 20, 2021 at Noon.
If a majority of states align with Republican ideals, plans, promises, and visions then there will be a continuation of power and the Trump era.
If a majority of states align with Democrat ideals, plans, promises, and visions then we will experience a transition of power and the dawn of the Biden/Harris era.
If the process denigrates into a drawn-out, contested court fight as many politicos are angling for then the banana republic era begins. This drama could be avoided by simply casting your ballot the old-fashioned way: in-person at a polling location. However, that would require us to safely follow Covid-19 guidance and find enough people to work precincts.
Elections have consequences...and deadlines. Receipt of PA mail-in ballots postmarked by November 3rd have been pushed to November 6th.
This eats 3 precious days of transition and allows for a potentially drawn out process in a key swing state. Let's not even get in to the issues of mismatched signatures or the Green Party being thrown off your ballot.
According to the National Constitution Center, state electors must meet on December 14th in order to give their representational votes.
This year, States have to present their tallies to the US Congress by Noon on December 23rd.
A joint session of Congress counts them on Jan. 6, 2021 at 1pm.
If any of the presidential or vice presidential candidates do not receive a majority of the electoral votes, then the US House of Representatives, currently led by the Democrats, would select the next president. The US Senate, currently led by the Republicans, would select the next vice president.
Will the current rental agreement on the White House be renewed, expire or updated for another lessee?
If there is a court fight to delay election results causing a 'failure to qualify' or a vacancy of office - which it looks as though the establishment is planning for - then, according to current US Code & succession law, the Speaker of the House would be sworn in as President of the United States.
All of this plotting, planning, and protesting of the peaceful political process for the Federal power in the United States officially began on November 9, 2016.
Kevin Battle has no chance of ever being elected president. He is co-host of the KDKA Radio Morning Show.
