Election Terror

[Emperor of Scandinavia]

Not to speculate too much about 9-11, but what would happen if the attack happened early?

The targets of the terrorists are the same (twin towers,pentagon...)

So instead of September 11, the attack is November 12. (About when the Florida recount begins)

Would Florida's electoral votes be dropped and whoever has more votes (minus florida) be declared the winner?

Would Clinton stay in office by some emergency powers act, until a new election can be safely be conducted?

 

[Lemon flavoured]

Without knowing too much (if anything, really) I can't see that an exact copy of 9/11 but on 11/12/00 would cause Clinton to stay in office, they would almost certainly go ahead with the recount.

And actually the recount might not take as long, because they'd be an urgency to do it.

 

[Philadelphus]

Not to speculate too much about 9-11, but what would happen if the attack happened early?

The targets of the terrorists are the same (twin towers,pentagon...)

So instead of September 11, the attack is November 12. (About when the Florida recount begins)

Would Florida's electoral votes be dropped and whoever has more votes (minus florida) be declared the winner?

Would Clinton stay in office by some emergency powers act, until a new election can be safely be conducted?

This country has never canceled a presidential (or congressional) election. Not in 1864, not in 1944. It would take way more than 9/11 - think World War III - to do that. And there's no way to not count any state's electoral votes. Particulary if they're decisive.

And you've suggested a 9/11 after the popular vote has taken place as normal, and in areas outside the state that's recounting. OTL, the mayoral primary that was taking place on 9/11 in New York City was postponed by, if memory serves, two weeks.

 

[Lemon flavoured]

If it had happened on Election day it would be more interesting, but I can't see anything other than a suspension of maybe a few days.

 

[Orville_third]

I'm not sure what it would have done. There are only two recent examples of elections being disrupted by outside forces that I recall:
9/11/01 NYC Mayoral Primary- Postponed two weeks
2/5/2008 Super Tuesday Tornado Outbreak- Polling places temporarily closed in some locations, later reopened. (Hours possibly lengthened.)