Skip to main content

2020 Presidential Election

Vox answers your biggest questions about the 2020 US presidential election.

Joe Biden is taking office amid a poverty crisis
Future Perfect

Columbia researchers project that 5 million to 12 million more people will be in poverty in January than a year before.

By Dylan Matthews
Politics
How Trump’s blizzard of misleading fundraising emails explains his refusal to concedeHow Trump’s blizzard of misleading fundraising emails explains his refusal to concede
Politics

It’s bad for the country, but it’s raking in the money for Trump.

By Aaron Rupar
Politics
Trump’s pardon shenanigans are ramping upTrump’s pardon shenanigans are ramping up
Politics

Flynn is likely just the start.

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
Trump’s attempt to overturn the election result has sputtered outTrump’s attempt to overturn the election result has sputtered out
Politics

His lawsuits have flopped, certifications are proceeding on schedule, and state legislatures aren’t seriously trying to interfere.

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
What happened to Democrats in North Carolina: “It was a total effort that failed down ballot”What happened to Democrats in North Carolina: “It was a total effort that failed down ballot”
Politics

Democrats tried, and failed, to turn North Carolina blue. Activists say a major shift in strategy is needed ahead of 2022.

By Sean Collins
Politics
Even Amy Coney Barrett appears skeptical of Trump’s latest attempt to rig the censusEven Amy Coney Barrett appears skeptical of Trump’s latest attempt to rig the census
Politics

Trump wants to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census. The result is a messy Supreme Court case.

By Ian Millhiser
9 questions about the Georgia Senate runoffs you were too embarrassed to ask
Explainers

The Georgia races will decide which party controls the Senate.

By Ella Nilsen
Politics
Trump’s first interview since losing reelection was a smorgasbord of disinformationTrump’s first interview since losing reelection was a smorgasbord of disinformation
Politics

The president spread conspiracy theories about rigged voting machines, mail-in voting, and more.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court just dismissed a GOP bid to overturn the electionThe Pennsylvania Supreme Court just dismissed a GOP bid to overturn the election
Politics

Trump’s terrible week in court continues with another Pennsylvania ruling.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
Federal appeals court rejects a Trump election lawsuit: “Calling an election unfair does not make it so”Federal appeals court rejects a Trump election lawsuit: “Calling an election unfair does not make it so”
Politics

The Trump campaign can’t stop losing election lawsuits.

By Cameron Peters
The challenge of combating fake news in Asian American communities
Politics

Language diversity within the AAPI community means misinformation is difficult to track.

By Terry Nguyen
Politics
The Supreme Court fight over Trump’s last-ditch effort to rig the census, explainedThe Supreme Court fight over Trump’s last-ditch effort to rig the census, explained
Politics

The Court must decide whether to follow the Constitution’s clear text — or to rubber-stamp an illegal effort by Trump.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
How Trump’s conspiracy theories have inspired some supporters to boycott the Georgia runoffsHow Trump’s conspiracy theories have inspired some supporters to boycott the Georgia runoffs
Politics

Lying to his supporters about elections being rigged is having an unintended consequence.

By Aaron Rupar
The long list of contenders for Kamala Harris’s Senate seat, explained
Explainers

California Gov. Gavin Newsom must choose a candidate for Harris’s Senate seat from a crowded field.

By Li Zhou and Benjamin Rosenberg
Politics
A historian on the perils of chaotic White House transitionsA historian on the perils of chaotic White House transitions
Politics

Key lessons from Herbert Hoover’s disastrous transfer of power to FDR in 1933.

By Sean Illing
Politics
No, you cannot move to Georgia just to vote in the Senate runoffsNo, you cannot move to Georgia just to vote in the Senate runoffs
Politics

It is, in fact, illegal — unless you’re actually moving to the state to stay.

By Ella Nilsen
Politics
The presidential transition begins as the GSA formally recognizes Biden’s victoryThe presidential transition begins as the GSA formally recognizes Biden’s victory
Politics

A federal agency has named Biden as the election winner, after weeks of delay and mounting bipartisan pressure.

By Jen Kirby
Explainers
Where Trump’s attempt to overturn Biden’s win standsWhere Trump’s attempt to overturn Biden’s win stands
Explainers

He’s had little success so far, and deadlines are looming.

By Andrew Prokop
Technology
The $35 million play to fix Democrats’ data problem is shutting downThe $35 million play to fix Democrats’ data problem is shutting down
Technology

It was Silicon Valley’s attempt to fix the party’s infrastructure.

By Theodore Schleifer
Politics
Trump lashes out at fellow Republicans as his legal challenges to election results failTrump lashes out at fellow Republicans as his legal challenges to election results fail
Politics

The president called some Republicans RINOs, as his legal strategy was criticized by friends and foes alike.

By Anya van Wagtendonk
Politics
A Republican judge just tore into Trump’s election lawyers for their incompetenceA Republican judge just tore into Trump’s election lawyers for their incompetence
Politics

Trump’s lawyers asked a judge to disenfranchise nearly 7 million voters. It ended badly for Trump.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
Why Biden is crowdfunding his White House transitionWhy Biden is crowdfunding his White House transition
Politics

The Trump administration is holding up federal transition funding; Biden has reportedly already raised $10 million.

By Anya van Wagtendonk
Politics
A new lawsuit alleges Trump’s effort to overturn Michigan’s election results disenfranchises Black votersA new lawsuit alleges Trump’s effort to overturn Michigan’s election results disenfranchises Black voters
Politics

Trump and his allies have lobbied for votes in Wayne County, home to majority-Black Detroit, to be thrown out.

By Anya van Wagtendonk
Politics
Georgia’s Republican secretary of state just certified Biden’s victoryGeorgia’s Republican secretary of state just certified Biden’s victory
Politics

It’s a blow to Trump’s effort to overturn the election results.

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
President-elect Joe Biden’s transition team is one of the most diverse everPresident-elect Joe Biden’s transition team is one of the most diverse ever
Politics

Biden wants his administration to “look like America.” His transition team is a start.

By Li Zhou
Politics
A Trump official is still blocking Biden’s presidential transition. House Democrats want answers.A Trump official is still blocking Biden’s presidential transition. House Democrats want answers.
Politics

Top Democrats asked GSA Administrator Emily Murphy to brief them.

By Jen Kirby
Politics
Trump’s lawsuits challenging the election have turned into a clown showTrump’s lawsuits challenging the election have turned into a clown show
Politics

Republican officials aren’t just losing. They are embarrassing themselves.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
Alaska voters adopt ranked-choice voting in ballot initiativeAlaska voters adopt ranked-choice voting in ballot initiative
Politics

The voting reform measure is meant to combat polarization and increase voter choice.

By Kelsey Piper
Technology
How fake news aimed at Latinos thrives on social mediaHow fake news aimed at Latinos thrives on social media
Technology

Democrats are paying attention after a surprising number of Latino voters in swing states supported Trump.

By Shirin Ghaffary
Politics
New shenanigans are afoot in Michigan as Trump tries to block certification of Biden’s winNew shenanigans are afoot in Michigan as Trump tries to block certification of Biden’s win
Politics

A new report says the president reached out to Republican officials involved in certifying election results.

By Andrew Prokop
10 enormously consequential things Biden can do without the Senate
Explainers

Joe Biden can have a consequential presidency even with a Republican Senate.

By Dylan Matthews
Politics
How to fix the presidency after TrumpHow to fix the presidency after Trump
Politics

A plan for reforming the nation’s highest office beyond 2020.

By Sean Illing
Politics
Vox poll: 73 percent of Republican voters are questioning Biden’s victoryVox poll: 73 percent of Republican voters are questioning Biden’s victory
Politics

A majority of likely Republican voters also agree with Trump’s decision not to concede — for now.

By Li Zhou
Politics
The disturbing GOP attempt to block certification of Biden’s Michigan win, explainedThe disturbing GOP attempt to block certification of Biden’s Michigan win, explained
Politics

Republicans in Wayne County initially prevented vote totals from being certified — but then backed down.

By Andrew Prokop
Politics
A DHS agency said America’s elections were secure. So Trump fired its leader.A DHS agency said America’s elections were secure. So Trump fired its leader.
Politics

Chris Krebs, a cybersecurity leader, was dismissed for doing his job.

By Jen Kirby
Meet the voters who switched parties in 2020
Politics

From vote-switchers to first-time voters, here are a few of the new converts to both the left and right this election.

By Brianna Provenzano
Explainers
Lindsey Graham’s controversial call with Georgia’s secretary of state, explainedLindsey Graham’s controversial call with Georgia’s secretary of state, explained
Explainers

Amid Trump’s effort to challenge the election, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger went public about a call from Graham.

By Andrew Prokop
Explainers
How long can Trump keep disputing the election results?How long can Trump keep disputing the election results?
Explainers

Actual deadlines are fast approaching.

By Andrew Prokop
Immigration
New Democratic sheriffs in Georgia and South Carolina have vowed to cut ties with ICENew Democratic sheriffs in Georgia and South Carolina have vowed to cut ties with ICE
Immigration

The new sheriffs have promised to end cooperative agreements with ICE at the local level.

By Nicole Narea
Technology
Inside the behind-the-scenes fight to convince Joe Biden about Silicon ValleyInside the behind-the-scenes fight to convince Joe Biden about Silicon Valley
Technology

Who will have a seat at the table?

By Theodore Schleifer