# Is there any mechanism for an early election in the US

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mechanism-for-an-early-election-in-the-us/772358>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 18, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mechanism-for-an-early-election-in-the-us/772358 "2016-11-18T19:44:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mechanism-for-an-early-election-in-the-us/772358/21 "2016-11-19T16:03:57Z")

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> [@ftg](#):
>
> But as I noted above, the date is set by simple law, not Constitution. A new law could be passed changing it to November 2nd, no problem.

Ain’t gonna happen. No ifs, ands or buts.

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**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mechanism-for-an-early-election-in-the-us/772358/22 "2016-11-19T16:10:19Z")

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> [@griffin1977](#):
>
> As I understand it impeachment of the president simply results in the vice president taking over (this is what happened when Nixon resigned).

That is not what happens when a president is impeached. Both Clinton and Johnson remained in office after their impeachments, and Nixon was never impeached.

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**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-mechanism-for-an-early-election-in-the-us/772358/23 "2016-11-19T16:14:38Z")

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> [@Munch](#):
>
> That is not what happens when a president is impeached. Both Clinton and Johnson remained in office after their impeachments, and Nixon was never impeached.

This. Many Americans don’t understand exactly what an impeachment is. The rest of the world is completely clueless regarding this.

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