Dear MoveOn member,
The coronavirus pandemic is not only a public health crisis and economic
calamity, it is also a grave threat to our elections and our democracy.
With the coronavirus ravaging our communities, and public health officials
predicting that a second wave of infections will be even more deadly in
the fall, we simply cannot afford to have tens of millions of Americans
leave their homes to stand in long lines at crowded polling stations on
Election Day.^1
That's why Congress must immediately pass legislation to protect voting
rights and ensure every single voter can cast their ballot safely and
securely—even as this pandemic drags on.
But there's a big obstacle in our way: Donald Trump and the Republican
Senate led by Mitch McConnell. Trump knows that protecting the right to
vote hurts his chances of being re-elected. Trump said so himself: If
voting is protected, made easier, and turnout is increased, "you'd never
have a Republican elected in this country again."^2 That's why Trump is
relying on disgusting voter suppression tactics to propel him to a second
term. And McConnell has repeatedly shown he has no interest in protecting
our elections or strengthening the ability of Americans to vote.
John, we can't let Trump exploit the coronavirus pandemic,
suppress votes, and cheat his way to victory. But we may not have much
time to save voting rights for this November's election. As one New York
magazine headline put it: "The Next Coronavirus Bill Is Democrats' Last
Chance to Ensure a Fair Election."^3
That's why MoveOn is launching an urgent campaign to protect voting rights
in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic by flooding Congress with calls
and placing ads in key districts and states demanding that Congress
include in the next coronavirus bill measures to ensure that every single
voter can cast their ballot safely and securely and that Trump and the
Republicans don't try any dirty tricks to suppress the vote between now
and Election Day.
On average, MoveOn's monthly donors chip in about $10 a
month. Can you chip in $10 a month to help keep this
campaign going for as long as it takes?
[ [link removed] ]Yes, I'll chip in monthly.
[ [link removed] ]No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Here are some of the critical provisions, put forward in a bold plan by
Senator Elizabeth Warren, that your contribution will help fight for.^4
Together, we will demand that Congress take these steps:
* Give every single American the option to securely vote by mail, so
that voters can cast their vote from home and not risk getting sick
traveling to and from polling places.
* Ensure that all Americans can register to vote safely and easily,
including online.
* Ban states from purging their voter rolls and disenfranchising voters,
especially voters of color.
* Expand early voting to help prevent overcrowding and promote physical
distancing.
* Safeguard the integrity of our elections by requiring that states put
in place robust ballot-tracking tools to ensure voters can follow
their ballot at every step.
John, if we don't act now to protect voting rights, Trump and
the GOP will have free rein to exploit the coronavirus pandemic,
disenfranchise voters, and steal the November elections.
We simply cannot allow that to happen.
Can you chip in $10 a month to help flood Congress with
calls and place ads in key districts and states demanding that Congress
protect the right to vote and ensure that every single voter can cast
their ballot safely and securely in November? (The average gift from a MoveOn monthly donor is about $10
a month, but whatever you can afford will go a long
way.)
[ [link removed] ]Yes, I'll chip in monthly.
[ [link removed] ]No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
John, if Congress fails to do its job and protect the vote,
the consequences will be deadly.
Just two weeks ago, conservatives forced Wisconsin to hold in-person
elections—even while the coronavirus ravaged the state. Tens of thousands
of voters in Wisconsin were forced to choose between risking their life in
order to vote or being shut out of our democratic process.
As a result of holding in-person elections, Wisconsin public health
officials say at least 19 people—both voters and poll workers—became
infected with the coronavirus.^5
Imagine what could happen when hundreds of millions of us go to the polls
this November if we don't take action.
That is unacceptable. And it is exactly why we must do everything in our
power to pressure Congress to pass legislation to protect voting rights
and ensure every single voter can cast their ballot safely and securely.
Voting safely and securely isn't just a Democratic issue. Many Republican
voters and independents and many residents of "red" states are eager to
cast their ballot and will be rightfully scared of what that may mean in
the midst of a pandemic. Ensuring the ability to vote from home, vote
early, and avoid crowded polling places—while ensuring that polling places
are adequately staffed to reduce lines—is critical to all Americans.
That's why there is a chance to pressure Republicans to act—because many
of their constituents risk disenfranchisement because of the pandemic if
Congress doesn't take action.
Will you chip in $10 a month to help to pressure Congress to
protect voting rights in the midst of the coronavirus
pandemic? (The average gift from a MoveOn monthly donor is about $10
a month, but whatever you can afford will go a long
way.)
[ [link removed] ]Yes, I'll chip in monthly.
[ [link removed] ]No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Thanks for all you do.
–Chris, Cheryl, Olga, Emma, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even
more devastating," The Washington Post, April 21, 2020
[link removed]
2. "Trump says Republicans would 'never' be elected again if it was easier
to vote," The Guardian, March 30, 2020
[link removed]
3. "Next Coronavirus Bill Is Last Chance to Save the Election," New York,
April 7, 2020
[link removed]
4. "Warren releases plan to secure elections during coronavirus pandemic,"
The Hill, April 7, 2020
[link removed]
5. "19 new cases of coronavirus in Wisconsin linked to election
activities: State health officials," ABC News, April 21, 2020
[link removed]
Want to support our work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day
by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage,
defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's
pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must
never give up on. And to do it we need your ongoing support, now more than
ever. Will you stand with us?
[ [link removed] ]Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month.
[ [link removed] ]No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
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