As voters across America begin casting their ballots for the 2020 US presidential election, the tiny community of Dixville Notch in New Hampshire, known for being the first to vote, also shared a tied outcome between Trump and Harris. In his last campaign efforts, Trump continues his fear-mongering narrative about immigrants while also promising to lead America to "new heights of glory." At 78, Trump is the oldest nominee ever to run for president and his controversial tenure has not deterred his supporters, making the election results all the more unpredictable. With major implications for international affairs, this election is one to watch closely.
United States Presidential Election 2020: A Preview
The 2020 United States presidential election is underway, with voters across the country casting their ballots. The election pits incumbent President Donald Trump against Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
The election is being closely watched both domestically and internationally. Domestically, the election is seen as a referendum on Trump's presidency. Trump has been a polarizing figure, and his policies have been both praised and criticized. Internationally, the election is being seen as a test of the country's commitment to democracy and its role in the world.
Background
The United States presidential election is held every four years. The winner of the election becomes the President of the United States. The President is the head of the executive branch of government and is responsible for enforcing laws, negotiating treaties, and appointing federal judges and ambassadors.
The presidential election process is complex. The first step is the primary election. In the primary election, voters in each state choose their preferred candidate from their party. The winners of the primary elections then become the party's nominees for the general election.
The general election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In the general election, voters choose between the two major party nominees. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the President.
Key Issues
The key issues in the 2020 presidential election include:
Candidates
The two major party nominees in the 2020 presidential election are:
Top 5 FAQs
Donald Trump is the incumbent President of the United States.
The two major party nominees in the 2020 presidential election are Donald Trump (Republican) and Joe Biden (Democrat).
The key issues in the 2020 presidential election include the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy, healthcare, climate change, and racial justice.
The election process in the United States is complex. The first step is the primary election. In the primary election, voters in each state choose their preferred candidate from their party. The winners of the primary elections then become the party's nominees for the general election. The general election is held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In the general election, voters choose between the two major party nominees. The candidate who receives the most votes becomes the President.
The 2020 presidential election has major implications for both domestic and international affairs. Domestically, the election is seen as a referendum on Trump's presidency. Internationally, the election is being seen as a test of the country's commitment to democracy and its role in the world.
Elon Musk's xAI has launched Grokipedia, an AI-powered online encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia. Musk aims for the platform to be a "massive improvement" and free from any political bias. While Grokipedia currently sources content from Wikipedia, Musk plans to have all original content by the end of the year. This development adds to Bihar's political landscape, where leaders like Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar have dominated with their OBC politics, while Nitish's developmental narrative has transformed the state's political landscape.
BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule sparked controversy with his statement that party workers' phones and WhatsApp groups are being monitored ahead of local body elections. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut demanded his arrest, alleging that the phones of several Opposition leaders were also tapped. Bawankule clarified his statement, but the Sena leader questioned the involvement of BJP offices and technology networks, calling it a potentially anti-national act.
The Election Commission (EC) has announced the schedule for Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories (UTs) for the year 2025, excluding Assam due to the ongoing National Register of Citizens (NRC) process. While the BJP has welcomed the announcement, the Congress has raised concerns and questioned the decision. The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) has stated that Assam has a separate provision in citizenship laws and the NRC process must be taken into consideration, causing potential delays in the SIR preparations. Despite the physical closure of banks in Ranchi and Patna, financial services will remain available through digital and self-service platforms, so customers are advised to use online banking and plan any in-branch visits accordingly.
In a step towards promoting ethical governance and preventing corruption, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo administered the Integrity Pledge to officers and officials at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar. This marked the beginning of the National Vigilance Awareness Week, a nationwide campaign held annually by the Central Vigilance Commission. The theme for this year is "Vigilance: Our Shared Responsibility", emphasizing the role of collective efforts in upholding integrity, transparency, and accountability in public administration. Throughout the week, various activities will be conducted to sensitize employees and citizens on the importance of honesty and integrity in governance.
In a bid to promote integrity and fight against corruption, the Central Vigilance Commission has declared the observation of 'Vigilance Awareness Week' with the theme 'Our Shared Responsibility'. Health Minister JP Nadda, during the launch, stressed the need for institutionalizing ethical practices and building a culture of vigilance in every level of governance. He also urged for creating a checklist of do's and don'ts in simple terms to prevent unintentional wrongdoings.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa chaired a meeting to discuss ways to control dust pollution from construction activities in the city. He revealed that an extensive campaign has been launched to monitor and penalize illegal and unregistered construction projects. The Minister also directed officials to expedite field actions and simplify the registration process to ensure timely intervention against polluters.
In a press conference held in New Delhi, the Election Commission has announced phase two of special intensive revision of electoral rolls in 12 states. This comes after political parties raised concerns about the quality of the rolls. While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin arrived at DMK headquarters to discuss the issue, Assam's electoral roll revision will be announced separately due to the ongoing process of the National Register of Citizens. The EC has assured that there will be no obstacles in implementing the roll clean-up exercise in West Bengal.
President Droupadi Murmu addressed probationers of the Indian Police Service 77 RR (2024 batch) and emphasized the significant role that effective policing and future-ready technology play in promoting growth and attracting investment in any state. She highlighted the transformational impact of technology in the realm of policing and urged young officers to remain ahead in adopting new technologies, including AI, to combat threats to citizens. The President also encouraged ethical decision-making and accountability among young officers occupying positions of power and authority.
CEC Gyanesh Kumar has announced the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in 12 states and Union Territories, covering 51 crore voters. He also addressed concerns over the state of West Bengal, clarifying that there is no confrontation between the Election Commission and the state government. Additionally, he reminded that Aadhaar card is not proof of citizenship, but can be used as identity proof in the SIR process.
After Chief Justice Gavai's formal recommendation, Union Government is set to appoint Justice Surya Kant as the next Chief Justice of India. With a distinguished legal career and key institutional roles, Justice Kant is highly regarded for his commitment to electoral transparency and landmark verdicts on various issues including abrogation of Article 370 and free speech. His term is expected to begin on November 24, 2025, and last for approximately 15 months.