Can Donald Trump contest the election?
Will the Republican contender be allowed to contest the election? The U.S. Constitution only requires that a candidate for the presidential election should be at least 35 years old, he must be a naturally-born U.S. citizen and has lived in the country for 14 years. Going by the Constitution, neither a criminal conviction nor a prison sentence would affect Trump’s eligibility or his ability to become president. If elected, he could be sworn in from jail or prison.
Eugene Debs ran for president from prison
If it happens so, Donald Trump will not be the first president to contest the presidential election from a jail. Socialist Eugene Debs unsuccessfully ran for president from prison in the 1920 election.
Will Donald Trump go to jail?
Despite all the hullabaloo, political and legal experts believe that Trump will not be sent to jail on July 11, when the quantum of the sentence will be announced. People convicted for falsification of business records are rarely sent to prison. It is a non-violent offense and the former president is the first-time offender with no criminal record. He is an old citizen too. So, the Republican politician is most likely to be punished with a fine. If the sentence goes beyond fine, he could be placed under home confinement or subjected to a curfew rather than imprisoned.
As a former president, Trump enjoys a lifetime of Secret Service security. It would be complicated to keep him safe behind the bars. He can be released on bail if he appeals.
Will guilty verdict affect elections?
Many surveys and opinion polls have shown that a guilty verdict could cost Trump his votes in a big way. This will be an election that may be decided by just tens of thousands of votes in a handful of battleground states.According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll of registered voters held in April, one in four Republicans said they would not vote for Trump if he was found guilty in a criminal trial. Similarly, 60% of independents said they would not vote for Trump if he was convicted of a crime.
FAQs:
Is there a precedent for contesting the presidential election from jail?
Socialist Eugene Debs unsuccessfully ran for president from prison in the 1920 election.
When the quantum of sentence for Donald Trump would be announced?
The Manhattan Court will announce the quantum of the sentence in the hush money trial on July 11.
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