Dear John,

We’ve always said that our democracy’s strength depends on its voters. The health of one impacts the other. This is a very difficult time for our country, and we care deeply about the safety of our democracy that relies on confidence that each voter can freely and confidently exercise their right to vote. As the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts our elections and creates serious concerns about keeping voters safe at the polls, our job is to make sure that voters can cast their ballots safely and securely. We are actively working with our coalition partners to advocate for best practices, including:

• Encouraging voters to vote early or vote absentee if they can to reduce crowds (check your state’s rules here)
• Promoting guidance from the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on preventing the spread of the coronavirus at in-person polling locations
• Advocating against postponing the general election and ensuring that elections officials have the resources to safely conduct an election.
• Supporting emergency federal funding to assist election officials with implementing contingency plans, including vote-by-mail 

We are looking ahead to the November election, and are working on recommendations that keep voters safe and still maintain the security of our elections. As COVID-19 cases continue to mount, we expect to see dangerous proposals calling for internet voting, and we will push back against attempts to compromise our election integrity with promises that are not supported by modern technological capabilities. And given how unprecedented this cycle is shaping up to be, it's equally important that we continue to push for post-election risk-limiting audits (RLAs) so we have transparent processes in place to check the reported election outcomes. 
 
We have known since 2016 that this election cycle would represent a test of our ability to respond and recover, and it is throwing us challenges no one could have anticipated. Our commitment to ensuring that election officials have the tools and support they need to respond, and that the public stays informed is stronger than ever. Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns with us; we welcome the conversation, and the chance to connect.
 
With thanks,
Marian

Marian K. Schneider, President