ELECTION ISSUE Should the U.S
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DUKE 2020 Character matters when choosing a candiate Duke’s guide to local -Opinions : pg.5 election -pg.A3 Presidental debate highlights -pg.A1 ELECTION ISSUE Should the U.S. still use the electoral college? -Opinions : pg.5 Everything you need to know about mail-in ballots -pg.A1 Pg. A1 Pandemic leadership proves focal point of final presidential debate Next, the two candidates talked about Zoe Stratos American families, specifically healthcare. staff writer Trump claimed that he would overturn Obamacare, as he overturned the individual fter appearing for the first time on mandate during his first four years. He also stage together on Sept. 29 in what included that he would form a better plan only could be described as a chaotic — one that would better protect people with A preexisting conditions. Biden claimed to 90 minutes, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden came to- build off of Obamacare by passing a public gether last Thursday for another go at a pres- option, reducing premiums and assuring idential debate. that private insurance holders would not lose Trump’s diagnosis of COVID-19 in early their healthcare. October led to the second debate being can- During the race in America topic, Trump celed. With only one remaining debate, this improved from his argument during the first was the candidates’ last chance to plead their debate by talking of his efforts to reform the cases to citizens as to why they deserve to be prison system. Trump may have lost ground the president of the United States. when he claimed that he is “the least racist per- Hosted by Belmont University and moder- son in the room,” but again gained ground in ated by NBC’s White House Correspondent, coining the phrase “all talk, no action” in refer- Kristen Welker, the debate covered six top- courtesy of CNN ence to Biden’s lack of action in over 35 years in ics over the course of 90 minutes including Trump and Biden face off in the final presidential debate on the stage of Belmont University. politics. As a response, Biden took ownership the pandemic, national security, American of his mistakes with the crime bills during the away,” as well as that a vaccine is in the near to make sure they open safely. families, race in America, climate change 1980s and ‘90s. future. He also highlighted that the coun- During the national security portion, the and leadership. Due to the overabundant The climate change section largely sur- try needed to reopen as soon as possible to debate became more accusatory rather than interruptions during the last debate, each rounded Biden’s clean energy policies. After continue the economic prosperity he is con- a policy debate. candidate was given two minutes to speak Trump asked him “would you close down the gratulated for. Both candidates continuously accused the — uninterrupted — with a series of rebuttals oil industry?” Biden quickly returned with, “I After the debate, fact checkers noted other of collusion — specifically with Russia after answers. During the two minutes, the would transition from the oil industry, yes” — a that the U.S. has not rounded the corner and China. In this section, Trump told Biden opposition’s microphone was muted. statement that could lose him votes in the last yet. According to the COVID-19 Track- he “owes an explanation to the American peo- Starting off with COVID-19 — arguably days leading to the election. ing Project, around 60,000 new cases are the most prominent topic — each candidate ple” amid recent questions regarding his son, Lastly, during the leadership section, both reported daily, which is up from around took his own route on answering questions Hunter Biden’s, overseas business ventures. ended the debate with final inaugural state- regarding the upcoming vaccine, reopening 50,000 in early October. Biden ignored these claims, responding to the ments. Both highlighted their strongest policy the country and providing economic relief Biden, looking more so at the future, as- president, “I have released all of my tax re- beliefs, and assured the American people they for small businesses and schools. serted that he will look at the science to deliv- turns … You have not released a single solitary made the right choice. Trump focused on defending his four years er transparency to the public, enforce mask year.” Trump replied that he would release The race is tighter than we think after this as president; however, he brought up that wearing, sanitizing and social distancing and the tax returns as soon as he could — a claim presidential debate, and the upcoming Elec- the U.S. has “rounded the corner — it’s going provide resources to businesses and schools he has made without follow-up for years. tion Day is Nov 3. Mail-in ballots: the preferred voting during a pandemic election Zoe Stratos When choosing a mail-in ballot, voters can apply on- line or through the mail. An application must be filled staff writer out completely and submitted to your local county board n the U.S., voting is a fundamental right for citizens, of elections office. After receiving the ballot, it must be and showing up to the polling booths to cast a ballot filled out completely, sealed in the secrecy envelope, Ion Election Day has been the standard since the begin- sealed again and signed in the pre-addressed return en- ning of democracy. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Elec- velope and either taken or mailed to your county board tion Day is slightly different, as mail-in voting takes center of elections office. The earlier you turn in your ballot, the stage in all 50 states for the first time ever. surer you can be that it is counted. Election Day is Nov. 3, but for those voting by mail, “It was kind of like filling out the SAT,” Duquesne se- what deadlines should be paid attention to, and how do nior Emma McDonnell said. “After I opened it, it gave me you make sure your vote is filled out correctly? a set of instructions. You have to make sure the bubble is On the Pennsylvania government website, it’s stated completely filled in, and you have to use a pen.” that voters can now apply as an absentee or a mail-in However, the issue is that deadlines are different than voter without an excuse. For background, absentee bal- in person. The mail-in ballot must be received by the vot- lots are submitted by mail from an absentee. An absentee er by Oct. 27, and postmarked Nov. 3 by 8 p.m. If person- is a person who physically cannot go to a polling booth, ally taken to the county board of elections office, it must whether it be because of military deployment or because be in by Nov. 6 at 5 p.m. the voter will not be in his or her registered state during Along with directions of how and when to fill out the courtesy of the philadelphia inquirer the election. mail-in ballot on the state government website, many ad- Mail-in ballots feature small circles, akin to standardized testing. Moreover, the absentee ballot cannot be given to any- vertisements from local organizations reminded voters to from the Heritage Foundation, over 250 million votes one; there has to be an excuse. The voter must then re- fill out and turn in their mail-in ballots. have been cast by mail over the years, and only 1,285 have quest and be accepted to use the ballot through his or her “I got text messages about voting,” McDonnell said. “I proven cases of voter fraud. state government. However, 29 states, including Pennsyl- was shocked about that because I didn’t know how they “I think I know how it will affect the election, but re- vania, allow no-excuse absentee ballots, which are essen- got my number. It made me a little uncomfortable, but ally no one will until the election is over,” Sheahan said. tially no different from a mail-in ballot. Both are submit- they were really good and helpful advertisements. I also “It’s a little bit of uncharted territory. There will be a lot ted by mail. According to the Pennsylvania government saw a lot of good ones when I’d watch YouTube.” of talk and speculation about what the future will hold. website, absentee and mail-in ballots are equally safe and Since the scope of voting is changing in the U.S. this For me it might become a permanent part of voting, and I secure ways to cast ballots. The DOS online mail ballot year, there are worries among citizens as to how it will suspect that it will be for a lot of other people, too.” application can help decide which ballot is for you. affect the election outcome. But some want to stick to the standard in person vot- “It’s helpful if you have a disability, or if you’re part of Recently in Paterson, New Jersey, a municipal election ing. the at-risk population,” Duquesne political science pro- was conducted entirely by mail, and there were issues “I was just happy I got to vote for the first time,” Mc- fessor Luke Sheahan said. “It’s also helpful if your job with fraudulent and stolen mail-in ballots. There are also Donnell said. “I had the intimacy in my own home, and doesn’t allow it. I did it myself. I have to be on campus higher rejection rates among mail-in ballots, which could then I could just go on with the rest of my day.