Is it legal to postpone an election because of a candidate's death?

Question

In Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, longtime Sheriff Harry Lee died yesterday. He was running for re-election, with the election to be held this month. Since his death on Oct. 1, the powers that be have decided to postpone the election to November. Also, qualifying has been re-opened for the election, and any candidate who has already qualified (only 2 others besides Lee) must re-qualify. One candidate has filed suit to attempt to carry on the election as planned.

Of course, with Lee dead, many more candidates will enter the race, making it a wide open field. Lee was a guaranteed winner everytime he ran. Now there will most likely be at least a dozen candidates that throw their hat in the ring now that Lee has passed away, and qualifying has been re-opened.

Do you think this is fair to the other 2 candidates? Is it legal? What normally would happen if a candidate died before an election? Would/should the election be postponed?

Answer 1

You said yourself the other 2 candidates didn't have a chance against Lee anyway. So what's your beef? If they're any good, they will have a chance now, & so will the others.

Answer 2

I think so. I am from Minnestoa. In 2000 we had are gubernatorial elections. Our front running democrat who was likely to win in the first place was Paul Welstone. A couple weeks prior to the election, Welstone died in a plane crash. We immediatly had to find someone (Mondale) to take his place. The election was not postponed and because Mondale lacked the time to run a good campaign, the election went to Tim Pawlenty. What a shame.

Answer 3

That sounds unusual. Many times the elections proceed and sometimes a dead candidate wins.

Answer 4

Why should we? They would still take the same amount of time to make a decision as the live ones do.

Answer 5

No, I hope he has a vice president

He will run the show