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Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire delay elections: Is COVID a valid excuse?


Kurt Davis Jr.
By Kurt Davis Jr.
Investment banker

Kurt Davis Jr. is an investment banker focused on Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He earned an MBA. in finance, entrepreneurship and operations from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a J.D.. in tax and commercial law at the University of Virginia’s School of Law. He can be reached at kurt.davis.jr@gmail.com. 

Posted on Tuesday, 18 August 2020 11:45 

Liberia Elections Ebola
A Liberian red cross official takes the temperature of a man before casting his vote, during elections in Monrovia, Liberia on 20 December 2014. (AP Photo/Abbas Dulleh)

American President Donald Trump explicitly floated the idea of delaying November’s presidential election by way of a tweet on 30 of July.

It did not take long for a barrage of both congressional Democrats and Republicans to publicly rebuke his suggestion.

First, Trump does not have the legal authorityto move the date because the power to set the date for voting constitutionally sits with Congress.

Secondly, and more importantly, the automatic and stern responses that erupted from all political sides spoke to how election timelines and processes have been built into the country’s DNA.

While there is room for improvement in the process (i.e., increased mail-in voting), there is little doubt about the recognition of its importance to governance and peace. Although difficult at times to maintain in the midst of a pandemic, the people have a right to an electionto decide on the future of their country.

So the big question remains: if America can do it, why can’t African states do it too?

Elections across the continent

This year was supposed to be a busy year for elections across Africa…and many countries have kept their end of the bargain.

* This article was first pubishe on the African Report. 

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