I think the mods treat Elections the same as Great Debates, except that polls are allowed. Also, the mods will often let a non-debate OP stay in a debate forum if an actual debate ensues. If you read that thread, it didn’t look like anyone was actually debating after quite a few replies.
I’m not a mod but I think the thread should have stayed in Elections since that’ where the political junkies hang out and a discussion of the summit belongs in Elections, not in IMHO where it’s surrounded by threads about kittens and travel advice.
For example, we allow discussion of political books in Elections because the audience that’s likely to read them hangs out in Elections. Similarly, threads on sports books are in the Game Room since that’s the most likely target audience.