Articles about potential scenarios in the 2020 election
From Ballotpedia
Click here for more information about our 2020 election coverage.
| |
| Use the buttons below to see Help Desk hubs for other years. 2022 »
| |
Disputed results Presidential election lawsuits and recounts Post-election lawsuits | |
| Frequently asked questions General questions Presidential election Processing/counting mail ballots Results and certification Disputing results • Officeholder transitions | |
| Absentee/mail-in voting analysis Mail-in voting by state, 2016-2018 Mail-in rejection by state, 2016-2018 Uncalled races, 2018 When can states begin counting? Processing, counting, and challenging ballots | |
| Voting in 2020 Absentee/mail-in voting • Early voting • Voter ID Poll opening and closing times Recount laws by state Recount margin requirements by state U.S. Supreme Court actions | |
| Elections by state | |
In the weeks and months before the 2020 election, public officials, authors, and pundits speculated about the effect that changes to election procedures prompted in part by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic might have on the election's administration and outcome. This page catalogs and preserves those various possible scenarios and hypotheses. The page will be updated as additional scenarios are put forth or identified. If you are aware of scenarios that should be included, please email us.
Articles are placed in the following categories:
- Presidential election
- Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
- Election result reporting and certification
- Challenging election results
- Transitions of power and taking office
The 2020 election took place against a backdrop of uncertainty. Our readers had questions about what to expect in elections at all levels of government, from the casting of ballots to the certification of final results. Ballotpedia's 2020 Election Help Desk was designed to answer those questions.
Recently added
- Nov. 2, 2020:
- Alex Ward, "Why the risk of post-election violence in the US is higher than at any time in recent memory," Vox
- Josh Robin, "Election 2020: What Happens if Neither Party Gives Up?" Bay News 9
- Nov. 1, 2020:
- Ian MacDougall, "Why Bush v. Gore Still Matters in 2020," ProPublica
- Oct. 30, 2020:
- Benjamin Ginsberg and Bob Bauer, "Trust our electoral system. It’s built to handle challenges like this." The Washington Post
- Oct. 27, 2020:
Presidential election
Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
Election result reporting and certification
Challenging election results
Transitions of power and taking office
Other topics
More frequently asked questions about the 2020 election
Click on a question below to read the answer:
- General election information
- Who runs elections in the United States?
- Why do states have different election rules?
- What methods do states use to prevent election fraud?
- Do you have to vote for everything on your ballot?
- What happens if you mark outside the lines or use the wrong pen/pencil?
- What is a spoiled ballot?
- What is a write-in candidate?
- How can I check the status of my ballot?
- Can I take a ballot selfie?
- Presidential election
- What happens if a presidential candidate declares victory in the 2020 election before results are final?
- Can presidential candidates win the election if they have already conceded?
- What are the steps and deadlines for electing the President of the United States?
- What happens if there is a tie in the Electoral College?
- What are faithless electors in the Electoral College?
- What happens if a presidential nominee becomes incapacitated before the election?
- Can members of Congress object to Electoral College results?
- Processing and counting absentee/mail-in ballots
- What is the life cycle of an absentee/mail-in ballot?
- What happens if I vote by mail and want to change my ballot at a later date?
- What happens if someone votes by mail and then tries to vote in person?
- How do states protect and verify absentee/mail-in ballots?
- How do election workers match signatures?
- Are results reported on election night coming from in-person or absentee/mail-in votes?
- Do states report how many mail-in/absentee ballots are outstanding on election night?
- Do absentee/mail-in ballots take longer to count than in-person ballots?
- What happens if someone votes by mail-in ballot or absentee ballot and subsequently passes away before Election Day?
- Disputing election results
- How will election recounts work?
- How close does an election have to be to trigger an automatic recount?
- Can a candidate or voter request a recount?
- Who pays for recounts and contested elections?
- What are poll watchers?
- What does it mean to challenge a voter's eligibility, and who can do it?
- What is a redo election?
- Who can file election-related lawsuits?
- What are the reasons to call a redo election?
- Who can call a redo election?
- Can a redo be held for a presidential election?
- Transitions of power and taking office
- Who is the president if election results are unknown by January 20, 2021?
- Who serves in Congress if election results are unknown by January 2021?
- Who serves in a state or local government if election results are unknown?
- What happens if the winning presidential candidate becomes incapacitated before taking office?
- Articles about potential scenarios in the 2020 election
- U.S. Supreme Court actions affecting the November 3, 2020, general election
Footnotes
