Resources

Post Primary Report & Recommendations for November’s General Election

Amid a global pandemic, economic crisis, and widespread civil unrest, the 2020 presidential primary season faced a unique set of challenges. Voters cast absentee ballots in unprecedented numbers to avoid exposure to a deadly disease; faced with shortages of poll workers and protective gear, election administrators consolidated the number of in-person voting locations. Yet the primaries also offered a compelling set of lessons that can and should be applied to effectively managing November’s general election. Our recommendations, distilled from these lessons, will help policy makers, election administrators, and the media to secure a free and fair general election. Read our post-primary report and recommendations Here & the executive summary Here.

Statement on Why the President Cannot Cancel or Postpone the Election

Recently, questions have been raised about whether the president can postpone the upcoming general election. The answer is clear. Based on the relevant constitutional, statutory, judicial, and historical authorities, the president has no such authority to postpone or cancel the general election. Read our statement Here.

Statement on Unsubstantiated Claims of Fraud That Undermine Confidence in the Election Process

Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. No candidate for public office should make unsubstantiated claims of fraud in an attempt to undermine confidence in the outcome of an election. Read our full statement Here.

No, The President Cannot Cancel or Postpone the General Election

Unlike the primaries, which are governed by state law and take place on different dates across the country, federal law—which only Congress can change—sets November 3rd as the date of the general election. The president has no authority to change this date. The Constitution also significantly limits the ability of Congress to delay choosing the next president, even if it wants to—as under no circumstance can any president’s term be extended past noon on January 20th without amending the Constitution. Read our latest legal guidance Here.

Letter to Leadership in All 50 States and District of Columbia

In light of the challenges posed by COVID-19, it is imperative that governors, legislative leaders, secretaries of state, and state election directors mount an immediate effort to prepare for the worst in November and take action to protect the health of citizens in every state and D.C. as they participate in the 2020 general election — and that additional funding from the federal government be provided to help prepare. Read our letter Here.

COVID-19 Election Guide & Executive Summary

With the coronavirus crisis engulfing all 50 states, and primary elections shifting to accommodate public health concerns, the Task Force released its COVID-19 guidance for policymakers and election officials in preparation for November’s general election. This moment in our history proves that thinking through risks to a free and fair election is worth the effort: elections are, after all, the bedrock of our democracy. Read the Full Guide & Executive Summary.