(no subject)

[pauraque_bk]

I've just been told that the Department of Homeland Security is petitioning Congress for the right to postpone the coming election in the event of a terrorist attack.

Can someone please give me some solid information on this?

EDIT: A CNN article is here. Thanks, atdelphi.

EDIT2: There is also a BBC News article here. Thanks, muridae_x.

Comments

[idlerat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but (a) that was just a mayoral primary, not the general presidential election and (b) it took them hours to get around to closing it down anyway. I wasn't aware that any special measure was in place, certainly not an act of Congress and a new government agency with special powers. The fact that it was a municipal election and the whole city was paralyzed made it necessary, and the fact that it was a relatively low budget primary made it easy to do. The date that a new mayor would take office, for instance, was not affected.

They can't predict or protect against everything (although I think the Capitol being blown up is hyperbole--there's a reason it hasn't happened yet), but I agree with Feinstein--if they could hold elections during the Civil War without special acts of Congress, they can do it now. If the worst should happen, then local arrangements will have to be made. It seems to me that giving the Bush admin special powers to postpone the election that could defeat them is *already* allowing terrorism to disrupt the democratic process.

[pauraque]

It seems to me that giving the Bush admin special powers to postpone the election that could defeat them is *already* allowing terrorism to disrupt the democratic process.

I have to agree. The BBC article mentions a relevant quotation from President Lincoln:

"The election is a necessity," Lincoln said. "We cannot have a free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forgo, or postpone, a national election, it might fairly claim to have already conquered us."