By Anushka Varghese
The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, the 3rd of November 2020. This presidential election is set out to be the 59th quadrennial (recurring every four years) presidential election in the States. The presidential electors that have been voted for will either elect a new president and vice president or re-elect incumbents (currently holding office), which in this running, would be the globally recognized republican, yet not so well reputed, Donald John Trump. The elected winner of this election is scheduled to be inaugurated into office on the 20th of January 2021. Nonetheless, if no candidate running, receives a minimum of 270 votes, the House of Representatives will be given the power and responsibility to select the next president amongst the three highest voted candidates and the United States Senate will select the vice president from the remaining two highest voted candidates. This nomination process falls under the tile of an ‘indirect election’ as voters are expected to cast ballots selecting a slate of delegates.
The current 45th U.S president is formally seeking re-election. Unfortunately, his re-election campaign has been an ongoing one since his election in 2016. Does this give him an edge in the 2020 election? Absolutely. Against leading Democrats such as; Joseph R. Biden Jr and Elizabeth Warren, this pre-established campaign is a major threat. While Mr. Biden continues his gradual decline, Ms. Warren her corresponding ascent. At the moment the rest of the Democratic party is stagnant on the national level. Out of the other candidates, Pete Buttigieg appears to be in best shape to fight a strong and powerful campaign in the state of Iowa – which falls under the label of a ‘swing state’ along with Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and a few more. These are known as ‘swing states’ as it refers to how, with a reasonable campaign, they can be won by either a Republican or Democratic presidential candidate. Therefore, Pete Buttigieg, tactical raised an amount of $19.1 million, giving him a competitive advantage, as swing states will now be more likely to elect him. This allows for him to challenge Mr. Biden’s support towards the moderate workers. The next debate, taking place on the 15th of October may be the major turning point of this strenuous election – as the news is overwhelmed with impeachment inquiry into President Trump. You must be wondering now, if Trump still stand a chance? With an approval rating of 45 – 55%, he is still very significant in this 2020 running. In spite of that, the democratic party is counting on re-energizing the youth for this election as a record jump in the turn out rate for young voters (ages 18 – 29) helped democrats retake control of the House in the mid-term elections. In hopes that this cleverly strategized plan will play out in their favor once again, gives the democratic party an edge against Mr. Trump.
While the Republicans oppose abortion rights, funding to Planned Parenthood, drugs, the Affordable Care Act, Common Core, gun control, increased minimum wage and the estate tax, and support free markets and individual achievement, the modern Democratic party emphasizes on its commitment to egalitarianism (the doctrine that all people are equal), social equality through liberalism, voting rights and minority rights, including LGBT rights, multiculturalism, and religious secularism. These extensive differences between the two parties substantially divide the voters when deciding who should hold the Presidential office and be given all the power. In a polarized US and a polarized world, the decision to hand out power is crucial in determining the trajectory of the world. Voting in the president would hand out the power to make a difference, the power to fight for the country, the power to fight for the people and the power to do what is right. These are unpredictable times especially with the latest advent of Trump’s impeachment inquiry and the mass shootings in Texas over the summer, but the election campaign goes on.
The future of the United States of America will be determined on the 3rd of November after intense campaigning – it lies in the hands of the electors, candidates, preachers, believers and most of all the goodwill of U.S citizens.
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