W
e cannot let the lack of leadership in Washington, magnitude of the task or heartbreak of this moment stop us as we strive to address the racism in America. We must use our power and channel our frustration to make lasting change. This week George Floyd’s brother, when he visited the site of his murder in Minneapolis, asked us to channel our anger for change by voting. Time is running out for state legislatures to take action to ensure that everyone has equal access to the ballot.
We are in the grip of two crises, which together could spell disaster for our community and our country. The protests in the streets have driven the coronavirus pandemic out of the headlines, but make no mistake that we are still in the midst of a pandemic that has had a disproportionate impact on the black community. Protests that have brought us together in solidarity to address the epidemic of racism have also, very likely, extended the timeline of the pandemic.
Given the trajectory of this crisis and concerns about the potential of community spread of coronavirus at polling locations, we must allow all registered voters to vote absentee without an excuse. Just yesterday, in Tennessee, the Davidson county chancellor, Ellen Hobbs Lyle, ruled that the state’s limits on absentee voting during the pandemic constitute “an unreasonable burden on the fundamental right to vote guaranteed by the Tennessee constitution”.
This is a huge victory for health and safety, not a radical partisan policy change. In fact, 10 of the 16 states that traditionally limit absentee voting have adopted it and the Missouri legislature implemented important legislation to relax absentee voting requirements to preserve voter health and safety; it awaits the governor’s signature.
However, given what we saw in Texas – where the governor and secretary of state challenged a similar policy in court and took away the right to safely vote – we must continue to urge the Tennessee legislature, and state legislatures across the US, to act to protect voting. Covid-19 continues to be a deadly threat. Voters deserve a choice in how they cast their ballots.
As a black woman in the legislature, I am disappointed that our majority-white legislature seems to feel little urgency about addressing this impending crisis. I have also reached out to the governor and Tennessee secretary of state, who also showed little interest in adapting our election rules to meet this moment. Our communities are relying on this election as an outlet for their frustration – a chance to make sure their voice is heard. If we do not allow this temporary loosening of absentee voting restrictions, our elections will be set up to fail.
In early April, Wisconsin showed us what can happen if we fail to make changes in response to coronavirus. Droves of poll workers, understandably fearful of Covid-19, unexpectedly quit, resulting in the closure of 97% of Milwaukee’s polling places. Thousands of people were unable to vote. Those who remained stood in line for hours and voted in crowded places, risking their health. This cannot be the story in Tennessee in November and it cannot be the story anywhere.
Resources are not the issue. Tennessee has up to $55m available in federal funding from the Help America Vote Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (Cares) Act. The only issue is political will.
Our state and our country cannot afford to turn a blind eye to what this election means. We should not ask voters – especially black citizens, who have already been struck hard by this pandemic – to choose between their health and their vote. It is unconscionable. All voters – regardless of age, race, party or the state where they live – should have equitable access to the ballot. I will continue this fight in the legislature and I ask you all to join me in demanding equal election access for everyone.
Source: Elections - theguardian.com
