Was the 2020 election postponed because of COVID-19?
The general election stayed on November 3, 2020, while many states moved their primaries.
No. The general election stayed on its federally set date, November 3, 2020, under 2 U.S.C. 7. Many states moved their primaries through state action, but the general election date is set by federal law.
The general election date stayed the same
The general election stayed on November 3, 2020, under 2 U.S.C. 7. Federal law fixes House elections on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of every even-numbered year. Changing that date takes an Act of Congress passed by both chambers and presented to the president under Article I, Sections 4 and 7. The president cannot move it alone.
Many states moved their primaries
While the general election date held, many states moved their primaries through state action. Ohio moved its primary from March 17 to April 28, with the legislature extending absentee voting. Georgia moved from May 19 to June 9. Pennsylvania and Maryland moved from April 28 to June 2. Kentucky moved from May 19 to June 23.
Why the general election is different
The general election date is different because federal law sets it. 2 U.S.C. 7 fixes the date for House elections. Changing that date requires an Act of Congress passed by both chambers and presented to the president under Article I, Sections 4 and 7.
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Q. Was the 2020 general election postponed because of COVID-19?
No. The general election stayed on its federally set date, November 3, 2020, under 2 U.S.C. 7, while many states moved their primaries through state action. The general election date is different because federal law sets it.
Sources
- 2 U.S.C. 7, law.cornell.edu, https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/2/7 · 2026-09-25