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Canceled Election
The presidential election cannot be canceled — the Constitution requires that presidential elections take place this year.
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Fact: The presidential election cannot be canceled — the Constitution requires that presidential elections take place this year.
No one, not even the president, can cancel the presidential election. Congress set the current date for presidential elections in 1845 and it has been held on this date every four years — even through the Civil War and two world wars – for over 175 years.
Furthermore, the Constitution requires the president’s term to end on January 20. There are no exceptions that would allow the president to stay in office after that date unless the president is reelected.
Rumor: The presidential election can be canceled in the event of a national emergency or at the will of the president.
Rumors that the presidential election will be canceled — whether due to a national emergency or otherwise — have spread online, particularly in Spanish. Bad actors hope to discourage people from voting, undermine confidence in our democracy, and create uncertainty around election processes.
More from the Election Rumors in 2024 series
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Mail Voting Accuracy
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Ballot Counting
Election officials have many safeguards in place to ensure only legitimate ballots are included in election results. -
Citizenship & Voting
States have multiple checks in place to ensure that only eligible citizens can vote.
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