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US polls: Tough choice for voters


Published : 02 Nov 2020 08:20 PM | Updated : 03 Nov 2020 12:28 AM

US voters will cast their vote today and choose a president for the period of 2021-2024. But the highly conscious US voters endowed with American values and civil rights seem somewhat perplexed to choose a president as Donald Trump’s reckless and uncontrolled rhetoric has pushed the US to an uncomfortable situation even for its global allies fighting together the war on terror. On the other hand, the Democratic candidate Joe Biden could not so far create an election tempo-a sine qua non- for a win in polls- in his favour despite so many issues against Trump.

Trump’s $750 tax return submitted in fiscal 2016 and 2017 has left him in a serious image crisis as the US tax payers can easily understand that a person who has $421 million loan, with tax return $750 like a man of the lowest income group, can in no way be acceptable and reliable. And such an act by a president of the United States of America is incredible to people and they are not inclined to believe that such type of example can be set before the US citizens. 

This has dented the image of Trump a lot and a section of voters would not excuse Trump. Moreover, the killing of a man in the police custody and Trump’s cold and apathetic comments, following the nationwide anti-establishment movement and the deadly wording about the rogue coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed lives of hundreds of thousands of people, will have to be scrutinized as it would create a sort of impact on the polls.

The Islamic extremism, which has taken thousands of innocent lives in the world including the US, England, France, Spain, has become a serious headache for the peace-loving civilized people, and it has been still creating impact on the US polls. So, the possibility of returning Trump cannot be ruled out as he at least shows a determined attitude against the terrorists. In the election campaign in 2016, when Trump was pledging to take serious action against the terrorists, Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton was talking about the rights and maintaining peace in the society. And the aggrieved US voters were increasingly being attracted to the pledge of Trump. It was only due to that Trump became formidable and nothing could prevent him from winning the polls. The trauma of extremism is not yet over and the war on terror is going on.

Meanwhile, the people are in fear and anxiety about the aftermath of the election results, according to the report from New York, as Trump has declared that he will not accept the election result if he does not win. The report said that Trump from the beginning was talking aginst the mail in vote. He claimed that the democrat are in a conspiracy to manipulate the election results and he is not ready to transfer power peacefully, and the idea not to allow peaceful transfer of power is inconsistent with the American values and against the democratic practice. And for this reason, the American media felt jittery about the post-poll situation. They apprehend that there might be a violent situation if Trump is not winning the election. It is reported that in fear of violent acts in big cities including New York, Washington, Chicago, and the business houses are closing their daily activities.

It is widely believed that the undecided voters, who are very large in number, would be the decisive factor in this election. They will be watching the day-to-day situation and at the last moment they will make the final decision. Conscious people are waiting for the decision of the undecided voters and they thought that finally swing voters may reach a decision. They said, that party will win whom the undecided voters will tilt to. Both the candidates are frantically trying to win over the support of the undecided voters and both of them are touring those states in their campaign blitz at the last moment. President Donald Trump is trying to paint Joe Biden as the weakest person who is not fit to be the president of the USA and, on the other hand, Joe Biden has become more aggressive against Trump.

Iowa and Georgia were the strongest field of the Republicans and the Democrats won there once in 1992 when Bill Clinton was the candidate. Sometimes in the past, it happened if the party won in Florida it was sure that they would get the president. Florida was decisive. Biden has been able to narrow the gaps this time. The undecided voters will not support Trump, it can be presumably said. So, Florida has become one of the swing states. It is also said that Biden may do well in Texas. Some study said if Biden can do well in Florida and Texas, then it would be difficult for Trump.

On Wednesday, Trump while addressing the meeting in Arizona, said that there would be a chance of vote rigging. The people working in Trump camp are considering that as the excessive advance votes were cast and they are sure the advance voters are Democrats and that’s why, they are worried about the election results.

Earlier on October 9, Reuters said in a report that there might be a riot after US election. On the other hand, on October 7, New York Times said, the officials concerned have taken several initiatives fearing untoward situation centering the election. FBI and Homeland Security have adopted a number of techniques to thwart any post-election violence.

Associate Press (AP) has recently reported that law enforcers were on the alert in many counties fearing possible violence and unrest. AP also said, “Americans keep arms with them. So there is a fear of armed violence on the day of the election.”

A joint survey conducted by AP and NRC said that every seven Americans in ten feared violence centering the US election this year.

On October 23, a report of popular TIME magazine said “Special police force will be deployed in some 1,200 voting centers of New York city. The governor of Michigan said, “None will be allowed to carry arms on the day of election. There will be Emergency Command Centers in Indiana and Florida on the day.”

Traditionally the Americans allow the consecutive terms to the incumbent president to fulfil his election pledges, though the senior Bush was not allowed a second term.


Sharif Shahab Uddin is the Editor-in-Chief of Bangladesh Post