Everyone Should Be Able to Vote by Mail, Especially in a Pandemic
The COVID-19 crisis puts workers, immigrants, LGBTQ individuals, Black and Brown people, and the most vulnerable among us at great risk. They are on the front lines of the crisis. While Democracy Initiative (DI) partners and allies are working day and night to protect their respective communities, President Trump is openly pushing a divisive message and leading a deliberate strategy to suppress votes — especially Black, Brown, and vulnerable communities already suffering the most severe life and death consequences from COVID-19.
We saw the ugly results of this partisan political strategy play out in the Wisconsin primary where voters and poll workers literally risked their lives on election day after Republican legislators and courts blocked the Governor’s attempts to protect people by expanding vote by mail, extending absentee voting and delaying the election. 52 poll workers and voters tested positive for COVID-19 after participating in the primary.
All attempts by elected leaders and/or courts to block common-sense measures to secure safe access to voting or to confuse or mislead voters are an attack on our democracy. In this consequential election year, and with the potential for a constitutional crisis looming, the people must be able to participate and make their voices heard.
In Fall 2019, DI board and partners were prescient when they adopted a 2020 mobilizing and organizing plan to increase civic participation to 75% with an emphasis on Vote by Mail (VBM). With VBM, voters receive a ballot in the mail from their election officials, fill it out at home, then return it by either mailing it to their local elections office or drop it off in a designated location.
At the DI, we believe all voters should have the opportunity to vote by mail, especially now amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Vote by Mail Increases Participation and Equity When Paired with Safe In-Person Voting Options
New analysis from the National Vote at Home Institute found that properly designed VBM systems increase voter turnout across race, age, income, and education, as well as among voters with disabilities. They also cite a recent study by the MIT Election Data and Science Lab that found very little demographic difference in the use of mailed-out ballots, by race, age, income and education, and that Black Americans appear to be slightly more supportive of mailed ballots than White Americans.
Importantly, the Vote At Home Institute report echoes other recent publications including a new report from DI anchor partner NAACP and the Center for American Progress (CAP) emphasizing the importance of maintaining safe in-person voting for individuals and communities who need that option. Expansion of vote by mail cuts down on crowded polling places, which in turn helps to keep in-person voters and election workers safe.
Both the NAACP-CAP report and a new report from DI anchor partner Demos lay out critical steps to safeguard the voting needs of historically disenfranchised communities — Black, Brown, and Native American people — and the most vulnerable among us — including the elderly, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ individuals. All voters have a fundamental right to cast a ballot and have it counted. In the context of COVID-19, this means voters should be able to:
- Get a Ballot at Home and Vote without Bureaucratic Red Tape
- Receive and complete a ballot at home.
- Completed ballots received before and on Election Day should be counted.
- Ballots returned by mail should have federally funded pre-paid postage (like military and overseas ballots already have).
- Secure ballot drop-off boxes at convenient community locations, including grocery stores, work-sites, healthcare centers and hospitals.
- Community services and healthcare workers should be able to assist in the collection of completed ballots.
- Voters should be able to stay on the voter rolls and receive a mailed paper ballot despite having missed voting in previous elections.
- No witnesses or additional paperwork should be required to submit your ballot.
- If there is a problem with your ballot, elections officials should be required to contact you and give you a chance to resolve it even after Election Day. - Vote In-Person Safely
- Early voting at vote centers.
- Curbside drive-up voting.
- Clean, disinfected polling places staffed by workers who receive full personal protective gear and hazard pay. - Make Use of Common Sense Voter Registration
- Register and manage information such as address changes online.
- Register to vote any day including during early voting periods and on Election Day.
State and Local Action Needed
The good news is that every state already practices some form of VBM such as absentee voting. In fact, 26% of all votes were cast by mail in 2018. In Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Utah elections, all voters are mailed ballots and have the option of returning them by mail with pre-paid postage or dropping them into local ballot boxes. But there is still much work to be done to ensure that all voters have the opportunity to cast their ballot by mail this year. 15 states still require voters requesting an absentee ballot to provide an excuse in order to get a mailed ballot. And, many states with no excuse absentee ballot programs will have to rapidly scale up their capacity to process a huge uptick in mailed ballots as more and more voters choose to vote from home.
Governors and local election officials have the responsibility to ensure that people don’t have to risk their health or their lives to have a voice in governing. The Brennan Center, a DI partner, has compiled and regularly updates an overview of how states are preparing for voting in the pandemic. The wecanvote.us site has voter-friendly up-to-date information on voting processes and deadlines in each state.
Congress Must Provide Adequate Funds to Help States Ensure Safe Voting
While it is up to Governors and local election officials to make some changes to ensure that people don’t have to risk their health to have a voice in governing, those changes are costly — estimated between $2-4 billion nationwide. State and local governments already have their hands full and budgets maxed out dealing with the health and economic crisis. They should not have to shoulder the financial burden of safeguarding our elections. That is the federal government’s responsibility. So far, Congress has only appropriated $400 million, nowhere near enough.
Call to Action
Congress must step up and provide adequate funds to help states ensure all people have safe voting options this year. They are expected to act on a new COVID-19 emergency funding package in the coming weeks. It is critical this package contain adequate funding for states to virus-proof the 2020 elections. Use this COVID-19 Voting Social Media Toolkit to amplify the call for Congress to provide funding for safe and fair elections. And sign up for our electronic newsletter so we can keep you posted for opportunities to help.
