To the Editor:
Re “Virus Raging, G.O.P. Fights Mail-In Votes” (front page, April 9):
We need to plan for the possibility that the November election cannot safely be done in person, or that many people will remain too scared to vote in person. We cannot allow fear to prevent people from voting. Only mail-in voting allows those who remain fearful to still exercise their right to vote, a foundation of our democracy.
There is little chance that Republicans will vote to expand mail-in voting as part of the fourth round of economic support measures to offset the effects of the coronavirus emergency. Their excuses will be preventing voter fraud (their voting rights boogeyman), along with states’ rights, a traditional Republican basis to oppose federal legislation.
If the Wisconsin primary is any indication of the challenges of conducting an election in which concern for catching or spreading this virus might still be a concern, then mail-in voting is the only way to ensure that the maximum number of people are able to vote and do not need to feel that they are risking their life to do so (the ultimate poll tax).
But our president has admitted the tawdry basis for his opposition: Expanded mail-in balloting will hurt Republicans. It is a frank admission: The difference between winning and losing is how many people vote; the more who vote, the worse their (and his) chances.
Finally, expanding mail-in voting would eviscerate any argument for putting off the November election.
Here’s hoping that we come together as a nation to beat this stubborn virus, and that we as a nation see the wisdom in affirming the right of all citizens to vote.
Martin L. Greenman
Sonoma, Calif.
To the Editor:
Many are talking about making mail-in ballots the norm. This is great and should be one of three options to vote. Everyone should be able to vote via mail, online or in person. Why aren’t people talking about voting online? Surely a few companies in the tech community could make this happen in time for our November election.
It took a few minutes to fill out the census form online. We can submit our taxes online. We should all be able to vote online, via mail and in person for every local, state and national election.
Barbara Gottesman
Upper Montclair, N.J.
To the Editor:
In “Trump Wants 50 Wisconsins on Election Day” (column, April 12), Jamelle Bouie says: “Millions of ballots have been mailed in during dozens of elections and there’s been no evidence of serious fraud or misconduct. That ‘tremendous potential’ is essentially nonexistent.”
Tell that to the voters in North Carolina’s Ninth Congressional District. The 2018 election there was overturned by the state Board of Elections when it was discovered that there was, indeed, widespread fraud involving mail-in absentee ballots. The Republican candidate, who had won because of this fraud, eventually withdrew altogether and did not run in the new election ordered by the board.
Marshall De Bruhl
Asheville, N.C.
To the Editor:
Voting by mail should replace voting at the polls in its entirety. The two institutions that can definitely be trusted are the county Board of Elections and the U.S. Postal Service. The money saved by eliminating the need for poll workers could be used to offer free postage on the envelopes used to vote by mail. The person voting would also have more time to consider what he or she is voting for and would not be confined to the hours of the polling place.
Joe Bialek
Cleveland
To the Editor:
Voting by mail at least theoretically opens up the possibility that a person at the same address as a vulnerable voter could pressure or coerce the weaker person to vote in a way other than that person really wishes to. The privacy of the voting booth does not allow this. Have voting-by-mail states had cases of this reported?
If the advantages of voting by mail are worth this risk, what are some ways of addressing the situation I am worrying about?
Mike McGraw
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
To the Editor:
In the spirit of bipartisanship, why not give everyone what they want? Let the Republicans vote in person and the Democrats vote by mail.
Lila McCarthy
Novato, Calif.
To the Editor:
In Milwaukee 180 polling places were reduced to five because poll workers were afraid of the virus. Now is the time for states, counties and municipalities to begin recruiting young people and people who have recovered from the virus for the election in November. This will enable all the polling places to be open and insure not only safety but also preservation of our democracy.
Karl Matlin
Falmouth, Mass.
To the Editor:
Re “Trump Votes by Mail. We Should All Be Able To,” by Amy Klobuchar (Op-Ed, April 15):
The Klobuchar-Wyden mail-in voting bill (SB 3440) is right on target; however, it now rests in the Rules and Administration Committee with little chance of garnering Republican support. The November election is only seven months away and the effects of the virus will still be with us, which potentially puts us at risk with crowded on-site voting. So, what is the answer?
It is time for the Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate to treat this as an urgent issue and use its influence and leverage to get the voting bill passed and/or insist that any further coronavirus funding include money to help states implement mail-in voting capabilities. Our Democratic leaders must move now to avoid election issues down the road.
Kenneth Olshansky
Glen Allen, Va.
Source: Elections - nytimes.com
