Counterterrorism officials look to postpone elections

Counterterrorism officials are looking into the possibility of postponing the November presidential election if there is a terrorist attack at election time, Newsweek reported Sunday.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned last week that Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network may attack within the USA to try to disrupt the election.
The magazine cited unnamed sources who said the Department of Homeland Security asked the Justice Department for advice last week.
Newsweek said DeForest Soaries, chairman of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, wants Ridge to ask Congress to pass legislation giving the government power to cancel or reschedule a federal election. Soaries said New York suspended primary elections on the day of the Sept. 11 attacks, but the federal government does not appear to have that authority.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-07-12-postpone-elections_x.htm

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