US Voters Participate In The Primary Election Amid The Covid-19 Epidemic And Social Unrest

On June 2, US voters participated in the primary election in the context of a curfew imposed in many localities and the complicated Covid-19 epidemic.

Besides the District of Columbia, nine other states held elections including Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Dakota. In particular, the state of Iowa only held local elections due to the primary presidential election held there on February 1, opening the year for elections in the United States.

The election in Washington was held amid intense tension when Mayor Muriel Bowser had to impose a curfew order from 7pm on June 2 to 6 in the morning on June 3. Law enforcement agencies and the National Guard have been prepared to deal with protesters for the fifth consecutive night outside the White House following the death of African-American George Floyd.

A large fence was erected in front of the White House and military vehicles blocked some streets in the center of the capital. However, polling stations will be open until 8 pm and voters will not be arrested in the curfew.

The number of direct votes will be greatly reduced in localities as many voters have been encouraged to vote by mail to limit their exposure to the Covid-19 epidemic.

However, there is still a long line of electors outside the polling stations, especially in minority communities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A number of polling stations in African American communities are held in police stations. The Philadelphia government has also decided to postpone the curfew from 18:00 to 20:30 pm to facilitate voting.

Although former Vice President Joe Biden's rivals have all given up on the race, he still needs to collect 89% of the total number of delegates in this election to formally win the final Democratic nomination. 

If that number is not reached, Biden still has a chance to accomplish his goal in other elections this month.

As many voters have voted in the mail, along with the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic and social unrest over the past few days, the vote counting results in this election may be prolonged.