Barriers to Voting by Mail in Minnesota Removed Thanks to Minnesota Alliance Lawsuit

The Minnesota Alliance for Retired Americans and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon reached a settlement that will protect the civil rights and health of hundreds of thousands of older Minnesota voters in the November 2020 election. Ramsey County District Judge Sara Grewing approved the agreement Monday that allows voters to submit their mail-in or absentee ballots without a witness signature. Election officials will also count ballots that arrive within seven days of the election, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.

The Minnesota Alliance and three of its members, supported by the National Redistricting Foundation, filed a lawsuit in May to protect the rights of older voters in the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This development is especially critical 

for seniors, who are the most at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic and need to be able to vote by mail to protect their health,” said Alliance Executive Director Richard Fiesta.

“I am relieved and elated that the Secretary of State and the court have affirmed my constitutional right to vote without putting my health at risk,” added Teresa Maples of Red Wing, Minnesota, a plaintiff and member of the Minnesota Alliance.

In addition to Ms. Maples, the plaintiffs include Minnesota Alliance members Gary Severson of Chaska and Mary Samson of Newport.

Trump Betrays Seniors by Directing Social Security Cuts

President Trump tweeted on Thursday that he plans to sign an executive order to cut the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Executive Director Fiesta immediately issued a statement in response.

“After learning that Democratic and Republican Congressional Leaders would not go along with his harebrained scheme to cut Social Security’s dedicated funding source, President Trump lashed out and announced he would begin dismantling the system single-handedly,” said Fiesta.

He added that seniors pay for their housing, food and medicine with their Social Security, putting $1 trillion into our economy every year. Since older Americans have earned their benefits through a lifetime of work, their retirement security should not be put at risk “because President Trump is mad at Congress for not bending to his will.”

“Alliance members will fight this attempt to gut Social Security, and when voting starts in September we will remember who was willing to defend and protect our earned benefits,” he concluded. 

Alliance Members Host More Medicare and Social Anniversary Events

Alliance members across the country continued to celebrate Medicare’s 55th and Social Security’s 85th anniversaries this week.

Over 200 seniors and activists participated in the California Alliance's Celebration and Call to Action last Friday and other members have held banners at key intersections and organized "CARAvan parades.”

On Wednesday, Rep. Cynthia Axne joined the Iowa Alliance’s anniversary virtual event while Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson joined a Texas Alliance online celebration. Rep. Colin Allred sent a message for the Texas Alliance event by video, and Rep. Marc Veasey called in by phone.

The celebrations continued on Thursday. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) joined the Maryland/DC Alliance online and Executive Director Fiesta spoke at the Washington State Alliance Virtual Convention and Anniversary Celebration.

"Alliance retirees aren't letting a pandemic stop them from drawing attention to these critical earned benefit programs," said Joseph Peters, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance.

Take Action: Postal Service Backlog Affecting Delivery of Critical Mail

So-called “cost-cutting measures” directed by President Trump’s new postmaster general are causing days-long backlogs of mail, putting the health of millions of Americans at risk.

Alliance members have reported delays in receiving their prescription drugs, something that did not happen before Postmaster General Louis DeJoy took office in June. The media has also interviewed veterans who are having the same problems.

Postal workers are alarmed by the changes to Post Office operations, which include shutting down sorting machines early and requiring letter carriers to leave mail behind to avoid extra trips -- even for Priority or Overnight Mail.

“Directing hard-working postal employees that they cannot deliver the mail on time is outrageous and puts millions of Americans’ lives at risk,” said Robert Roach, Jr., President of the Alliance. “Congress needs to hold the Administration accountable and let postal workers do their jobs.”

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