Health

How does the President’s current condition affect this election?

BOSTON — How does the President’s current condition affect this election? Should the uncertainty of his recovery and the condition of people he came in contact with affect who you vote for or how you vote?

It is possible by this time next week you could have your mail-in ballots in your mailbox here in the state of Massachusetts, but the question for many voters with this news is: Do they still want to mail it in right away or should they wait to see the health of the candidates?

“I’m sending mine in immediately,” said voters Nan and Mac McKernon.

Since they’re not taking any chances this election, their mail-in votes will be in weeks before Nov. 3. Still, the uncertainty of the candidate’s health does have them wondering, What if?

“We were talking about what might happen if we play the doom and gloom game, if Trump were not the presidential nominee,” they said.

“Then what could theoretically happen is the electoral college could meet and nominate a different candidate,” said Alex Psilakis of MassVOTE. “We’ve never had anything like this happen before so we really have to wait-and-see.”

Alex Psilakis of MassVOTE says there is no point playing the what-if game right now, but carry on voting the same way you were before you heard President Trump tested positive for COVID 19.  If you choose not to stand in line at a polling place, then just make sure you get your ballot in the mail at least a week early to make up for any Postal Service delays. If not, you could end up like the 2% of voters in the September primary whose votes did not count.

“Approximately 18,000 ballots and mail-in ballots were rejected. They were rejected for a variety of reasons, about half of which were rejected because they arrived late,” said Psilakis. “It will be a little bit easier in the general election as long as you have your ballot postmarked by Nov. 3.”

But this is 2020 and if we’ve learned anything this year it’s not to risk it.

“Historic, this whole experience has been historic,” said the McKernon’s. “It’ll be interesting to see what happens but go vote that’s the important thing, just to go vote.”

Polling places will have PPE and sanitizing supplies and will also enforce social distancing, but if you are too worried about going to a crowded polling place and don’t trust the mail-in vote, you can participate in your towns in-person early voting starting Oct. 17.

For example, in Boston, Fenway Park will be open for that since the Red Sox won’t be using the park. Lastly, you could take your mail-in ballot and drop it off in person at your town or city hall. Just make sure you register, the last day to do that is Oct. 24.

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