In the headlines: the coronavirus profoundly changes the electoral campaign in the United States

Text by: Stefanie Schüler Follow

4 min

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We already knew that the conventions of the two parties would be held almost behind closed doors, far from the crowds and the usual great political spectacle. And we learned yesterday, that in addition, the conventions will probably take place without the physical presence of the two key figures, namely Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Joe Biden announced yesterday that he would ultimately not be traveling to Milwaukee to accept the Democratic Party nomination. Instead, Donald Trump's competitor will be giving his speech from his state of Delaware. "  This decision demonstrates once and for all that the presidential campaign will in no way resemble a traditional campaign  ," said the New York Times.

Donald Trump, on the other hand, expressed the idea yesterday of holding his nomination speech live from the White House. This sparked a real outcry, within the Democratic camp but also within the ranks of Republicans, notes the Washington Post. These critical voices denounce an unprecedented politicization of the presidential seat of power. "  While local elected officials fear that a speech by candidate Trump at the White House will cause new demonstrations and a new wave of coronavirus in the American capital  ".

The president's crusade against postal voting

Donald Trump continues his crusade against postal voting for the November 3 election. Latest offensive to date: the president's campaign team and the Republican Party have filed a complaint against Nevada. This state has just passed a new law that will allow each registered voter to receive and return their ballot by mail, explains the Wall Street Journal. "  This will make electoral fraud inevitable,  " say the complainants. Donald Trump, who called this Nevada law a “  disaster  ”, said “  the American post office would not be able to handle millions of ballots  ”.

Nevada is not the only state to choose this option, however. "  In all, about forty states facilitate postal voting to varying degrees, some having adopted measures in this direction in the wake of the pandemic,  " notes the Radio Canada website. All these states are trying "  to fill the void left by President Trump's lack of leadership and to protect both the health of voters and their constitutional right to vote,  " said Nevada Democratic Party President William McCurdy. , in the columns of the Las Vegas Review Journal.

The Boston Globe recalls that the latest measures aimed at saving money at the American post office are not likely to facilitate voting. These measures were announced by the new head of the post, who is none other than a major donor to Donald Trump. The editorialist calls on elected Congressmen to take legal action. "  The credibility of the presidential election and the protection of the votes are at stake,  " the newspaper concludes.

Bolivia: the standoff over the date of the presidential election hardens

In Bolivia, the political standoff over the date of the presidential election is hardening. "  The Supreme Electoral Tribunal yesterday confirmed the date of October 18,  " the newspaper Correo del Sur announced . For the president of the Bolivian electoral institution, this date is "  the most appropriate  " to hold the ballot in view of the health crisis.

But supporters of ex-president Evo Morales do not hear it that way. They denounce this new postponement of the election and suspect the interim conservative government of postponing the date, because the runner-up of Evo Morales, Luis Arce, is still leading the polls to win the presidential election.

After the failure of negotiations between the Electoral Tribunal and social organizations, reports Los Tiempos , "  the Bolivian workers' center immediately announced an intensification of road blockades across the country  ". Its leader also warned the interim government: "  if the police venture to launch any operation against this mobilization, we will march on La Paz  ."

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