Coronavirus, Democracy, Populism, & Domestic Politics Politics, pandemics, and protests

Exactly how the coronavirus pandemic, the current unrest, and the nation’s economic woes will affect November’s presidential election is unclear, but voter turnout will be key, according to two political experts. 

“There’s so much uncertainty and we’re not sure exactly how some of these things are going to play out in the election, but one of the things that has not changed and where there’s amazing stability is the president’s approval,” said John Lapinski, the Robert A. Fox Leadership Professor of Political Science at Penn. “The support among his constituents is rock solid. So, it is really going to be about turnout.” 

Lapinski, who is also the director of the elections unit at NBC News, and former Republican Congressman Charlie Dent spoke on the eve of Pennsylvania’s primary at a virtual event organized by Perry World House.  

The hourlong Zoom discussion, moderated by Michael Horowitz, interim director of Perry World House, touched on mail-in balloting and how the pandemic and protests might play into the election, how to battle disinformation, and if President Donald Trump could cancel the election (Short answer: He can’t.) 

Both agreed that one effect of the pandemic is that mail-in voting will increase, and depending on how states manage the process it could lead to delayed election results if counting continues for days or even weeks. It could be the case that swing states like Pennsylvania can’t announce a clear winner on election night, they said. 

Read more in Penn Today >>