John,
In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, some state governments have postponed primary elections. Last Tuesday, Ohio put a stop to their primary on the day of, creating confusion among voters. Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Maryland have all followed suit, postponing their primaries to later dates this spring or summer.
We support protecting voters' health first and foremost. That is why we need to make voting easier and more accessible, especially in situations like this one. The truth is, there’s multiple long overdue voting reforms that could enable voters to still make their voices heard during this unprecedented crisis, and we at Voto Latino have joined The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Voting Rights Task Force in urging members of Congress, governors, and state election officials to pass these reforms NOW.
Here are some of the key voting reforms that would make voting easier for Americans both during and after this pandemic:
- Online voter registration, same-day voter registration, and extended voter registration deadlines to make it easier for every eligible voter to register;
- Early in-person voting to reduce lines and crowds at polling places;
- Voting by mail to make it even easier to vote, especially for those who need assistance or who are immune-compromised, and to allow people to practice social distancing.
Every state should have these options already, but unfortunately, many don’t, and this public health crisis has made it all the more urgent that we pass them ASAP.
If you agree we should be making it easier for everyone to vote right now, join VL in supporting these voting reforms by adding your name today >>
Together, let’s make it easier than ever before for every eligible voter to make their voice heard – even in the face of this pandemic.
En solidaridad,
Sandra Sánchez
Director of Digital Engagement, Voto Latino
