2020 election
Kennedy Offley '20 Features Editor
The 59th quadrennial United States presidential election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020.
Maryland residents who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 can register to vote at the polls on election day or at early voting with a government ID (such as a driver's license) and valid proof of residence. Registration is also available online and by mail; the deadline is 21 days prior to the general election.
COVID-19 has impacted state primary elections. Governor Larry Hogan postponed the April 28 primary to June 2. To limit the spread of COVID-19, only a handful of polling locations will be open for in-person voting; most voting will be done by mail.
Marylanders will have few elections to participate in, as Presidential primaries are nearly concluded. Incumbent President Donald Trump is presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, while former Vice President Joe Biden is the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. The two will face off in the November General Election.
Trump had only three opponents in the primary, none of whom were seen as having any legitimate shot at their party’s nomination. Only one, Rocky de la Fuente, remains, although he is not on the ballot in all states.
Biden emerged from a crowded field of over 20 candidates after strong wins on Super Tuesday, when 14 states and American Samoa held their primaries. In April, Biden’s main opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democratic Socialist, suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden, making Biden the presumptive nominee. He has since been endorsed by 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as Vice President.
Biden and Trump have numerous policy differences. Biden’s proposal to address the climate crisis would have the U.S. using energy from 100% renewable sources by 2050, while Trump wants to expand American reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. On healthcare, another prominent issue, Trump has touted his plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare, while Biden would like to maintain it.
Ms. Goldsmith, a government teacher at Howard, explained that different populations have different priorities they demand from a candidate. For example, “younger voters may be more interested in student loan forgiveness and older voters may be more concerned with medicare.”
Senior Lindsey Brilliant, who plans to vote in November, is “considering all of [the candidates’] positions on social, economic and foreign policy issues, and looking at their social skills.” Brilliant sees voting as “a chance to have a say in the government, and the opportunity shouldn't be wasted.”
Senior Nathan Menk plans to “look back at the campaign trail and see what Donald Trump has done in office and what the democratic candidates offer to the presidency.”
Maryland residents who are U.S. citizens and at least 18 can register to vote at the polls on election day or at early voting with a government ID (such as a driver's license) and valid proof of residence. Registration is also available online and by mail; the deadline is 21 days prior to the general election.
COVID-19 has impacted state primary elections. Governor Larry Hogan postponed the April 28 primary to June 2. To limit the spread of COVID-19, only a handful of polling locations will be open for in-person voting; most voting will be done by mail.
Marylanders will have few elections to participate in, as Presidential primaries are nearly concluded. Incumbent President Donald Trump is presumptive nominee for the Republican Party, while former Vice President Joe Biden is the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party. The two will face off in the November General Election.
Trump had only three opponents in the primary, none of whom were seen as having any legitimate shot at their party’s nomination. Only one, Rocky de la Fuente, remains, although he is not on the ballot in all states.
Biden emerged from a crowded field of over 20 candidates after strong wins on Super Tuesday, when 14 states and American Samoa held their primaries. In April, Biden’s main opponent, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democratic Socialist, suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden, making Biden the presumptive nominee. He has since been endorsed by 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, and former President Barack Obama, under whom Biden served as Vice President.
Biden and Trump have numerous policy differences. Biden’s proposal to address the climate crisis would have the U.S. using energy from 100% renewable sources by 2050, while Trump wants to expand American reliance on coal and other fossil fuels. On healthcare, another prominent issue, Trump has touted his plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare, while Biden would like to maintain it.
Ms. Goldsmith, a government teacher at Howard, explained that different populations have different priorities they demand from a candidate. For example, “younger voters may be more interested in student loan forgiveness and older voters may be more concerned with medicare.”
Senior Lindsey Brilliant, who plans to vote in November, is “considering all of [the candidates’] positions on social, economic and foreign policy issues, and looking at their social skills.” Brilliant sees voting as “a chance to have a say in the government, and the opportunity shouldn't be wasted.”
Senior Nathan Menk plans to “look back at the campaign trail and see what Donald Trump has done in office and what the democratic candidates offer to the presidency.”