The United States held its presidential election on November 3, 2020.

The election
was notable for its high voter turnout, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
voting procedures, and the controversies surrounding it. This class note will
provide an overview of the election, including the candidates, the issues, the
voting process, and the aftermath.

Candidates:

The election was a contest between the incumbent president, Republican Donald Trump,
and his challenger, Democrat Joe Biden. Trump had been in office since 2017 and was
seeking a second term, while Biden had previously served as Vice President under
Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017.

The campaign:

The campaign was marked by a number of contentious issues, including the COVID-19
pandemic, racial justice, and the economy. Trump's handling of the pandemic was
heavily criticized, as the United States had one of the highest death tolls in the
world. Biden made the pandemic a central issue of his campaign, promising to provide
a more coherent and effective response if he were elected.

Racial justice was another key issue in the campaign, with widespread protests
taking place across the country following the killing of George Floyd by police
officers in Minneapolis. Trump's response to the protests was criticized, with many
accusing him of exacerbating tensions and failing to provide leadership.

The economy was also a major issue in the campaign, with both candidates promising
to create jobs and boost economic growth. Trump pointed to the strong economy before
the pandemic, while Biden promised to provide relief to struggling Americans and
invest in infrastructure and renewable energy.

Voting process:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the voting process, with many
states expanding mail-in and early voting options in order to reduce the risk of
transmission. This led to a surge in early voting, with over 100 million people
casting their ballots before Election Day.

The election itself was held on November 3, with millions of Americans lining up at
polling places across the country to cast their votes in person. However, due to the
pandemic, many states allowed mail-in ballots to be counted after Election Day,
leading to a delay in the final results.

Controversies:

The election was not without controversy, with Trump and his supporters making a
number of claims of voter fraud and irregularities. These claims were largely
unfounded, with multiple courts dismissing them and state officials stating that
there was no evidence of widespread fraud.
Trump's refusal to concede the election and his attempts to overturn the results
further fueled the controversy. This culminated in the storming of the US Capitol on
January 6, 2021, by a mob of Trump supporters who sought to disrupt the
certification of the election results.

Aftermath:

Biden was declared the winner of the election on November 7, 2020, after winning the
key battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. He received over
81 million votes, the most ever for a presidential candidate, while Trump received
over 74 million votes.

Following his inauguration on January 20, 2021, Biden began to implement his policy
agenda, which included addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, investing in infrastructure
and renewable energy, and addressing racial justice issues.

Conclusion:

The 2020 US presidential election was a historic and controversial event, marked by
high voter turnout, a pandemic, and allegations of voter fraud. Despite these
challenges, the election proceeded smoothly, and Joe Biden was elected as the 46th
President of the United States. The aftermath of the election highlighted the deep
political divisions within the country, but also the strength of American democracy
and the resilience of its institutions.