Posted on 10/29/2012 4:52:44 PM PDT by mdittmar
Yes: Congress would lead the way in rescheduling it, but the states would have to sign on. And, no, there's no plan yet on the public books.
No matter how bad Hurricane Sandy turns out to be, it could have been a lot worse: It could have struck one week later than it did, swamping the 2012 presidential election in its low-pressure trough. As hard as it will be for officials to recover from the storm in time for next week's vote, and as frustrated as many early voters will be this week amid the flood waters, just imagine how many citizens would have been deprived of their ability to vote if the hurricane had blown through the East Coast on November 5 or 6. No trains. No buses. No roads. No electricity. No polling stations. No poll watchers. No voting for tens of millions of Americans.
We got lucky, in other words, at least as far as the election is concerned -- an election remarkably void, it must be said, of any meaningful dialogue about the effects of global warming on America's climate. The timing of Hurricane Sandy is indeed a reminder that there are things in this world far more powerful than our presidential campaigns and stump-speech timetables. It's a reminder that also raises an important question many storm watchers might reasonably be asking themselves as the rain and wind pounds down on them. Could America ever delay a presidential election due to a natural event or other catastrophe?
The short answer is yes.
(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...
Can’t post the image of the act but here is the record:
http://memory.loc.gov/ll/llsl/005/0700/07590721.tif
My maternal grandmother was also born in 1888—in Kansas. She was killed in an automobile accident in 1953. I’m probably her only relative who remembers her, and I’m the only one who still decorates her grave.
The Constitution requires that electors vote on the same day. The Constitution does NOT require that electors be selected on the same day. The method of selecting electors is left up to the legislatures of each of the states.
By statute, Congress has mandated that each state select its electors (by whatever method each state chooses) on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The statue also provides that if a state is unable to select its electors on that date, then the state legislature can select the electors on a subsequent date.
So if a hurricane or other disaster hits on election day, then the affected states are free to cancel or postpone their elections without affecting the elections in any other state.
The Constitution requires that electors vote on the same day. The Constitution does NOT require that electors be selected on the same day. The method of selecting electors is left up to the legislatures of each of the states.
By statute, Congress has mandated that each state select its electors (by whatever method each state chooses) on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. The statue also provides that if a state is unable to select its electors on that date, then the state legislature can select the electors on a subsequent date.
So if a hurricane or other disaster hits on election day, then the affected states are free to cancel or postpone their elections without affecting the elections in any other state.
How in the world is Obama going to convince ANYONE after tonight that the subways of New York might still be at risk of Flooding? It’s over Obama!
December? Don’t be crazy there now.
That would interrupt our representatives vacations.
/S
If the election was tomorrow it’s a talking point, but it’s a week away. And this is another argument against early voting. We did fine with absentee ballots to handle those not in their local on election day.
I do not have a problem with the storm being blamed on a lower voter turnout in New York, Baltimore, DC, Atlantic City, New Jersey and N. Virginia.
Hell, if I had to guess, based on the weather, I’d say this is proof that God is a republican.
(I am joking of course) I do hope everyone will be ok and my prayers are with those affected.
All we have to do is crown Obama Caesar.
Before the world ends on December 21, 2012.
funniest tweet I have heard so far from someone in the hurricane path:
“Cleveland’s power still out. City enveloped in darkness. Rain & wind relentless. Phone battery waning. Burns when I pee. Possibly unrelated.”
It's gonna be hugh and series. Is that my beeber?
If this Hurricane was hitting Texas, Mississippi and Alabama—all red states- would their be any discussion about postponing the election? Probably not.
Excuse the possibly inappropriate humor break, folks.
I'm gonna have to roll an eye here.
I don't know how old you are but it's safe to say you were at least too young to remember the blizzard of 1888. The hills were higher back then. People walked thru 4' feet of snow up those hills to vote. It was too cold for the horses back then... There were no phones to call each other and hardly anyone could read.... But sure as I'm telling you now, NO ONE talked about the idea of postponing the election for that silly snow storm.
See what I mean? There is a bit too much conviction in your assertion. :o)
I get your point. I don't know of a presidential election that has ever been postponed for weather.
The media thinks God is a conservative. And the storm is God’s fault. So, they will over turn God.
Amen!!!
Elections weren’t cancelled ( or even hinted at being cancelled) back then. My point was simply (and I knew my grandmother well,God rest her soul) that this silliness of somehow cancelling or postponing an election because of weather is just plain stupid. I just think that folks talking like this haven’t stopped to think about what people went through in years gone by in order to vote. Hell if people in Iraq can walk for miles in order to cast a ballot should we expect to do less?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.