Ideas worth spreading

What if a US presidential candidate refuses to concede after an election?

6,944,898 views | Van Jones • TED Studio

If the 2020 US presidential election is close, the race could drag on in the courts and halls of Congress long after ballots are cast, says lawyer and political commentator Van Jones. Explaining why the customary concession speech is one of the most important safeguards for democracy, Jones exposes shocking legal loopholes that could enable a candidate to grab power even if they lose both the popular vote and the electoral college -- and shares what ordinary citizens can do if there's no peaceful transfer of power.

If the 2020 US presidential election is close, the race could drag on in the courts and halls of Congress long after ballots are cast, says lawyer and political commentator Van Jones. Explaining why the customary concession speech is one of the most important safeguards for democracy, Jones exposes shocking legal loopholes that could enable a candidate to grab power even if they lose both the popular vote and the electoral college -- and shares what ordinary citizens can do if there's no peaceful transfer of power.

Learn more about how to preserve democratic norms in the United States.

Support Color Of Change to end racial injustice in the United States.

Support the NAACP to help ensure the political, educational and economic equality rights of all people.

Participate in the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights' effort to defend democracy and justice.

Join Dream Corps to strengthen our democracy and build a future with freedom and dignity for all.

About the speaker

Van Jones

TV host, author, changemaker

See speaker profile

Van Jones is the CEO of REFORM Alliance and a CNN political commentator.

ChooseDemocracy.us | Explore

Choose Democracy

Here you can take a pledge to protect democracy, learn about actions to take before and after Election Day and find resources and training materials to help prepare for the upcoming election.

electiontaskforce.org | Explore

The National Taskforce on Election Crises

A cross-partisan group of experts in elections, voting, national security, civil rights (and more), the National Taskforce on Election Crises provides straightforward information and useful resources to help the public, media and legislators prepare themselves to ensure a free and fair 2020 presidential election.

Hardy Merriman, Ankur Asthana, Marium Navid, et al. | version 1.2, 2020 | Explore

Hold The Line: A Guide to Defending Democracy

This guide, written by thought leaders in nonviolent conflict, organizing and campaign strategy offers a step-by-step guide to ensuring a fair election, planning for election day, possible scenarios to watch for and strategies to respond.

Transition Integrity Project | 2020 | Explore

"Preventing a Disrupted Presidential Election and Transition"

The Transition Integrity Project convened a bipartisan group of over 100 current and former senior government and campaign leaders in a series of 2020 election crisis scenario planning exercises. The results are outlined in this public report.

AllAmericans.org | Explore

All Americans Vote

CivicAlliance.com | Explore

Civic Alliance

Heritage.org | Explore

The Heritage Foundation

g-a-i.org | Explore

The Government Accountability Institute

ProtectDemocracy.org | Explore

Protect Democracy

Mobilize.us | Explore

Mobilize

Demos.org | Explore

Fight Back table

aclu.org | Explore

American Civil Liberties Union

naacplegaldefensefund.org | Explore

NAACP Legal Defense Fund

indivisible.org | Explore

Indivisible

Learn more about how to preserve democratic norms in the United States.

Support Color Of Change to end racial injustice in the United States.

Support the NAACP to help ensure the political, educational and economic equality rights of all people.

Participate in the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights' effort to defend democracy and justice.

Join Dream Corps to strengthen our democracy and build a future with freedom and dignity for all.