However unthinkable it is, many people have been wondering if President Trump will peacefully transfer power if he loses the upcoming election. The fear has become more intense as President Trump has maintained his strong opposition to ‘mail in ballots’. He has characterized them fraudulent although almost all experts of the US election process have said there is no evidence to suggest that. President Trump has refused to commit to a ‘peaceful’ transfer of power if he loses the election at the White House press conference on September 23, 2020 in answering a reporter’s question. He said – “Well, we will have to see what happens. I have been complaining very strongly about the ballots…The ballots are out of control”. This has immediately sent shock waves in the political circles. 

President Trump was in Nevada a week ago for a rally where he strongly criticized the state’s mail in ballot process and accused that it is rigged by its Democrat governor. The election process in the state is administered by the Secretary of State who happens to be an elected Republican official. The governor has no control over the election process. But that hasn’t prevented President Trump to make the accusation of rigged election in Nevada.

Many voters will be reluctant to vote in person this year because of the pandemic and will opt for mail in ballots. The law allows voters to mail it by November 3 for it to be considered valid. It might take considerable time for the states to finish counting the large number of mail in ballots. It is very conceivable in that situation that results from the ‘in person’ ballots may be reversed by the time the ‘mail in’ ballots are counted. If President Trump loses in that final count, he might play back his accusation of ‘rigged’ election. The intense turmoil about the election result may go on for quite some time. This is the scenario many are afraid of. 

Election results in question? It is time for the Supreme Court to step in just like it did in 2000 Florida count of George W Bush versus Al Gore presidential election after over a month long back & forth on ballot count and recount. Supreme Court on a 5-4 decision stopped the recount and gave Florida’s election victory with the 25 electoral votes to Bush which became decisive for him to become the President. No wonder President Trump is moving as fast as he can to install the nominee of his choice on the bench replacing the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He said at September 23 press conference – “I think this will end up in the Supreme Court. And I think it’s very important that we have nine justices.” The Republicans have succeeded in lining up the necessary votes to get Trump’s nominee confirmed through the Senate possibly before November 3 which will result in a 6-3 margin in favor of the conservative justices. 

The country has gone through major political turmoil recently starting with 2016 election interference to the impeachment of the President. There is a deep division in the country as we head into the election. The worst may not be behind us yet. 

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Nirmalya Chatterjee is an 11 year resident of Las Vegas.  He is a management consultant for consumer products and the hospitality industry. During his professional career, Nirmalya had several senior levels and ex-pat assignments. He was the Chief Financial Officer for Coors Brewing Company; Vice President of Finance for Las Vegas Sands Corporation; Sr. Vice President of Finance, Galaxy Entertainment Macau; and General Manager of Revlon India. Most recently, Nirmalya served as the Chairman of the Hindu Temple and Jain Center of Las Vegas.

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