November General Elections: Should everyone vote by mail?

With the United States in dire condition as we face the impacts of COVID-19, many are left to ask what the impact of this pandemic may mean for voter turnout in November’s General Election. For the Democratic and Republican primary elections, many states postponed or requested mail-in ballots for the primaries. New York completely cancelled their presidential primary amongst devastating COVID-19 breakouts, and Alaska and Wyoming voted entirely by mail, with New Jersey, Lousianna, and Connecticut post-poing their primaries. Wisconsin continued their primary elections amidst the pandemic and saw thousands of absentee ballots never mailed out, never received, or received too late, and extremely long voting lines, putting their residents at risk and results skewered. However, not only do Oregon’s primaries loom ahead, but the General Elections of November put many at risk for exposure to COVID-19 if voting polls cannot take place in social distancing standard areas. 
With six months left to decide, is creating a mail-in only general election safer for the public? There has been substantial talk about preventative care towards COVID-19, how practicing social distancing and quarantining is helpful towards allowing medical experts to create a cure, as we stay home and reduce risk of the virus. If we took advantage of these six months left to create a mail-in only election, would we be saving hundreds or thousands from the risk of exposure to COVID-19? Can we also learn from Wisconsin’s example and prepare for a higher number of absentee ballots? 
To have a legitimate election this november, states must prepare for a larger amount of absentee voting, as well as proper vote by mail procedures including extending early voting, encouraging and extending register to vote deadlines. For states that still vote in-person, they must practice precautionary measures such as gloves and masks for all volunteers. 

Marissa Bryan









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