UK panel recommends postponing elections over coronavirus

[demmiblue]

Source: The Hill

The United Kingdom’s Electoral Commission recommended the country postpone local elections scheduled for May over concerns about the coronavirus.

In a letter to Chloe Smith, the minister of state, the panel cited concerns from officials about their ability to conduct safe elections and noted that “significant” numbers of voters “will not have opportunity to vote, or feel inclined to vote” over concerns over the virus over “the direct and indirect impacts of” the coronavirus.

“The risks to delivery that have been identified are such that we cannot be confident that voters will be able to participate in the polls safely and confidently, nor that campaigners and parties will be able to put their case to the electorate,” the panel wrote.

“We therefore call on the Government to take steps to provide early clarity to all those with an interest in the electoral process; and on the available information and position we recommend the Government now delay the 7 May polls until the autumn.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/international/europe/487269-uk-panel-recommends-postponing-elections-over-coronavirus?__twitter_impression=true

[Javaman]

1. a frightening preview of things to come here. only on a national scale. nt

[BamaRefugee]

2. Trump's wet dream. He'll say that "for the health of all citizens" crowds and lines must be avoided

...so elections are canceled until he declares (don't forget, he is the "foremost authority" on corona virus and scientists marvel at how much he understands it) that HE, AND HE ALONE, has cured the world of the disease.

And I'm serious here. He'll find a way to do it.

[jberryhill]

3. Why do I doubt Gov. Andrew Cuomo, for example, is going to give a shit

Can you list the number of elections under control of the federal government?

If, say, Alabama, Oklahoma, Utah, etc. want to take the president's suggestion, that's fine.

But could you explain me how Trump would stop the State of NY from holding elections?

[durablend]

4. "They disobeyed federal orders so their votes don't count"

You really don't think he won't stoop to that?

[jberryhill]

5. Who counts the votes in the NY election?

I don't think you understand how elections are conducted in this country.

States run them. Period.

Spreading hysterical misinformation is not helpful, useful or cute.

[BamaRefugee]

7. I totally understand. If you think that the Electoral College is a state institution, you're wrong.

And it's what actually decides Presidential elections, not the states.

We'll see.
Don't forget the Russia factor here too, another "unknown" of possibly epic proportions.

[BamaRefugee]

6. Take your own example: If those states follow his orders, would the election be valid?

The Supreme Court will rule in Trump's favor that, no, the election is invalid without participation and electoral college representatives from ALL states, and tRump remains at the throne.

Many other possibilities including declaration of martial law, military patrolling polling places to make sure no one enters "for their own good".

Or, posse comitatus, tRump declares wannabe voters to be an "uprising" and sends troops.

Or, tRump tweets out a dog whistle to his followers that dirty no-good anti_American VOTERS should be shot, there will be snipers around hundreds of polling places, as soon as the news shows voter's bodies on the ground no one will show up to vote.

I'm sure Republicans already have this gamed out far in advance.

And if you think these are far-fetched, every single freaking thing that's happened the last 3.5 years has been far-fetched, or as the mealy mouthed media likes to call it: "unprecedented".

[aggiesal]

8. I expect Pendejo45 to do the same here ...

in November.

[appalachiablue]

9. Rec for visibility