GOP Leaders Reject Trump’s Suggestion To Postpone November Election

On Thursday, President Donald Trump tweeted that the November elections should be delayed “until people can properly, securely and safely vote” as he believes that mail-in voting will lead to voter fraud.

With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2020

In the same tweet, Trump differentiated between mail-in voting from absentee voting, which he claimed is “good,” despite the fact that the two terms are equivalent. And in response, even Republican congressman have shown their disapproval.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) was one of the many voices speaking against a potential delay of the election. As the president does not have the power to change the election date, Grassley said, “It doesn’t matter what one individual in this country says. We still are a country based on the rule of law.”

Election dates are set by Congress, and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Illinois) said that he would “oppose any attempts to delay the #2020Election.”

Reminder: Election dates are set by Congress. And I will oppose any attempts to delay the #2020Election. https://t.co/ptjG86YiF6

— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) July 30, 2020

Trump has been outspoken about the dangers of the mail-in voting on Twitter, claiming that it would allow foreign influence. “Mail-In Voting is already proving to be a catastrophic disaster. Even testing areas are way off. The Dems talk of foreign influence in voting, but they know that Mail-In Voting is an easy way for foreign countries to enter the race. Even beyond that, there’s no accurate count!”

Mail-In Voting is already proving to be a catastrophic disaster. Even testing areas are way off. The Dems talk of foreign influence in voting, but they know that Mail-In Voting is an easy way for foreign countries to enter the race. Even beyond that, there’s no accurate count!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2020

Despite the backlash from his usual supporters, Trump continued to talk about mail-in voting and how it would effect the election, emphasizing the time that it would take for the votes to be counted.

Must know Election results on the night of the Election, not days, months, or even years later!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 30, 2020

Democrats have been also critical of Trump’s suggestion.

“All he wants to do is divert from his abject failure in the coronavirus crisis,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-New York).

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Illinois) also said that despite the president’s words, “There will be no delay in the #2020Election. … It will be held on November 3rd, as planned and required by law.”

There will be no delay in the #2020Election. Congress sets the election date, and it should not be changed. It will be held on November 3rd, as planned and required by law.

— US Rep Rodney Davis (@RodneyDavis) July 30, 2020

Davis is one of the members on the House Administration Committee, which oversees the federal elections.