WHAT TRUMP THREATENS IN THE 2020 ELECTION 

ACTION ONE: CALL YOUR SENATORS

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WYDEN AND MERKLEY:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
I am concerned that Trump will not relinquish the presidency even if he loses by massive numbers. Voters must have confidence in voting results. That means election security. Please use all your abilities, including launching a filibuster in tandem with your Oregon colleagues, to demand that Republicans pass election security bills. The public must have confidence in the outcome of the 2020 election. 

ACTION TWO: CALL YOUR HOUSE REPS

Not sure who your U.S. Representative is? Find out here. 

SAMPLE SCRIPTS FOR REPRESENTATIVES:

My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I am calling because…
I am concerned that Trump will not relinquish the presidency even if he loses by massive numbers. Voters must have confidence in voting results. That means election security. Please use all your abilities, including launching a filibuster in tandem with your Oregon colleagues, to demand that Republicans pass election security bills. The public must have confidence in the outcomes of the 2020 election. 

BACKGROUND:

Our democracy has endured because dissenters knew they had a way to change policies and presidents through elections.  
These elections, often enough, require a defeated president to transfer his authority to the new president. 
Today, these two pillars of democracy – fair elections and the peaceful transfer of power – are both threatened in the 2020 election. 
Confidence in election results has been shaken by: 
  • Republicans’ massive voter suppression,  
  • Fake “news” designed to influence voters, 
  • Putin’s propaganda campaign,  
  • Russia’s attacks on vote counting machinery.  
Enough uncertainty has been introduced to raise a doubt if the election is close. 
As for the peaceful transfer of power, Trump has signaled he may not accept election results and has often “joked” about keeping the job beyond his term.  
  • Trump’s longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen swore under oath that if Trump loses the election “. . . there will never be a peaceful transition of power.” 
  • Trump has never committed to abide by election results unless they favor him. 
Unless he loses by devastating numbers, Trump will challenge the results all the way to his Supreme Court.  
We all must demand secure elections by pressuring Senate Republicans to pass security bills already passed by the House.  

SOURCES: 

The Atlantic, Feb. 22, 2020: “What Would Happen If Trump Refused to Leave Office?”   https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/02/what-if-he-wont-go/606259/  
 Inquistr, Feb. 15, 2020: “Author Claims Donald Trump Already Has ‘Step-By-Step’ Plan For Refusal To Leave Office If He Loses Election”  https://www.inquisitr.com/5893909/donald-trump-plan-refusal-leave-office/      
 Politico, June 21, 2019: “What if Trump won’t accept 2020 defeat?”  https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/21/trump-election-2020-1374589   
 Vox, May 10, 2020: “The serious but potentially overblown fear that Trump won’t leave office, explained”