Washington – Despite the corona crisis, the planned area code is said to exist in the US state of Wisconsin this Tuesday.
The Supreme Court overturned Governor Tony Evers’ ordered move, Wisconsin Democratic Party leader Ben Wikler wrote on Twitter.
“Thousands will wake up and have to decide whether to exercise their right to vote or to stay healthy and safe,” said Governor Evers. The ruling allowed the election to go as planned – against the advice of health experts and with an “extreme risk” to the public.
Left-wing Senator Bernie Sanders, who, like ex-US Vice President Joe Biden, is campaigning for the Democratic presidential nomination, sharply criticized the decision. “Let us be clear: holding this choice in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak is dangerous, disregards the recommendation of health experts and can prove fatal,” Sanders warned in a message.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, which was widely reported by numerous US media, came just hours after Evers last minute ordered the area code to be postponed by two months. “I can’t watch with a clear conscience and can’t do anything,” Evers had said of the short-term move. He was obliged to ensure the safety of people.
Republican representatives in Wisconsin had taken legal action against the decision and accused Evers of an “unconstitutional maneuver”. It exceeded the governor’s powers to “cancel” an election, they argued.
US media reported that the Supreme Court in Washington – the highest US court – ruled Monday night to extend the six-day postal deadline.
How exactly the election day will now run is unclear. Various other states had postponed their votes for March and April due to the pandemic to a later date.
The United States has been hard hit by the corona pandemic. The absolute number of cases of infection is higher there than in any other country. Exit restrictions apply to many parts of the country. The schedule of the election year has been completely mixed up by the crisis.
Republican incumbent Donald Trump plans to run for a second term in the presidential election in early November. He has already been determined as the presidential candidate of his party. For Democrats, former US Vice President Biden and left Senator Sanders are still in a race for their party’s nomination. Biden is clearly in the lead after the previous primaries. So far, Sanders has maintained his presidential application.
