Coronavirus and Voting: What Needs to Happen

With the coronavirus keeping us in our homes, and large gatherings are no longer existent, the need for mail-in voting has increased. In most states, voting physically happens at the polls, which means at each location, hundreds of people are flowing in and out of an inclosed area. In a pandemic that spreads as quickly as the coronavirus does, this just won’t do. This is why there are the stay at home orders. This is why there are social distancing regulations in place. If there is going to be a decrease in cases of coronavirus within the US, congregating in large crowds (especially in enclosed areas like where voting polls are set up), is not the best idea. There really is no guarantee that everyone will be safe in this kind of setting. Sure, they can set up social distancing rules, keeping everyone six feet apart at all times and only allowing a certain amount of people in at one time. But the voting booths themselves are touch screen that would need to be disinfected after every use. This also is concerning for the safety of the poll workers, who will come into contact with hundreds of people a day. Voters are scared to leave their homes and risk catching the disease. The need to cast their vote gets put on the back burner when staying healthy has become a top priority. So now, many are scared, or unable to physically go to the polls to vote, and there is a need for safer voting.

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The safe solution to casting ballots during the pandemic is mail-in voting. This is exactly the time when this would be most needed. There are only five states — Washington, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Hawaii — that automatically have mail-in voting. Ballots are sent to every voter and votes are cast via mail. And while some states allow voters to request an absentee ballot without reason, there are sixteen states where voters would need to submit a reason for request, five of which have decided that coronavirus is not a valid reason. Voting by mail needs to be made easier and more accessible for people especially during this pandemic. No one should feel unsafe while voting. No one should be told to stay home from the polls if they feel unsafe, denying their right to vote. 

Learn more about absentee ballots and the rules for your state here —> https://www.vote.org/absentee-voting-rules/ 

Request an absentee ballot here! —> https://votesaveamerica.com/absentee/