COVID-19 and the Importance of 2020 Election
Now more than ever states across America have to act to ensure that everyone or as many people as possible have a safe, and fair way of voting. Ideas that have been discussed include socially distanced in-person voting, online voting, and voting by USPS mail. Each method has its own share of problems and ways they need to be adjusted to ensure safety, and grant every available voter the access they need. Socially distanced in-person voters must be able to go to a facility that can handle not only the large amounts of voters but allow them to be spread out in a safe manner. Not only this but the CDC and many states would require everyone attending to be wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks. Next, we see one glaring problem with online voting, not everyone has the same access to the internet and the resources required to be able to vote in this manner. There is already a large amount of systematic voter suppression affecting African American, Latinx, and indigenous communities and this would only stand to further their lack of voice. Lastly, voting by mail. If states were to follow through with this as it seems to be the best option there are multiple steps that are going to need to be taken to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
The first is states are going to have to supply some kind of financial and work assistance at USPS facilities. USPS facilities across the nation are going to have more volume than ever before, along with the added complications of remaining safe while handling the letters. Next, we will need workers who are willing to risk their own safety for the sake of our free democracy to count these votes. Lastly, and more importantly, some way of ensuring that our vote counted and that the votes that are being counted are being done so in a completely fair manner that is not affected by any outside sources. With elections, less than 5 months away states need to start making statements, executing a plan, and securing their residence confidence and trust once again after last elections fiasco. COVID-19 is another test to our nation’s election system and if we can’t get this right 2 terms in a row, it might be time for serious change.
Written By: Cade Petersen
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