We all need to do more to ensure that, when it comes to our elections, everyone participates and everyone's voice is heard. Only then can we create a democracy that’s more fully of, by and for the people.
In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) most states are letting anyone vote absentee for the spring and summer elections. Voting by mail is a safe, secure way fror people to cast their ballot because states, especially those who have a long history of voting by mail, have established strong safeguards to prevent improper voting.
Pennsylvania held its primary elections Tuesday. Even before the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), more Pennsylvanians than ever were going to vote by mail given the state’s expansion of mail-in voting last fall. However, the spread of COVID-19 has accelerated that shift towards more mail-in voting. Compounding matters, recent civil unrest in response to police brutality led many counties to consolidate polling locations.
The continued spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses a real threat to our democracy, as it may significantly reduce voter turnout in the spring primary and the general election in November. PennPIRG, the statewide public interest organization, is supporting a new bill introduced today by Representative Kevin Boyle. HB2637 amends Act 77, providing $40,000,000 to send each voter in the state a vote-by-mail application. The state should go even further and send a vote-by-mail ballot to every voter to ensure full participation.
