Although large numbers of Americans will vote by mail this year, in-person voting options remain essential for the 2020 elections to be truly fair and accessible. Use these talking points when discussing the League strategy of making voting more flexible and providing options for voters.
1. Stress that expanding vote-by-mail is necessary, but so is preserving and expanding in-person voting options
- As elections officials make decisions to expand vote-by-mail options, they must also look for ways to expand in-person early voting and protect Election Day in-person voting by ensuring it is safe and accessible, especially for communities of color, people with disabilities, Native Americans, and other underrepresented communities.
- Not every voter has a street address. Vote-by-mail presents hurdles for Native American voters living on tribal lands and voters without permanent addresses, given that many do not have equal access to the mail system.
- Voters with language access and literacy challenges may require in-person assistance to cast their ballot. Any vote-by-mail system must include effective language assistance at every stage of the voting process.
- Paper ballots used in a vote-by-mail system are not accessible to some voters with disabilities, including those who are blind or have low vision. Voters with disabilities who are unable to mark paper ballots privately and independently rely on accessible voting stations to cast their ballots, as required by federal law.
- In-person voting is an important option for voters who are new to absentee voting, because it is a system people know and trust. For many voters, it is their preferred option.
- In-person voting is an important backup for times when the mail system fails, such as when their mail ballots don’t arrive in time.
- The League of Women Voters is committed to making in-person voting safe by working with election officials to ensure access and safety for voters and poll workers.
- Leagues, insert your specific activities and outreach; see our blog for ways Election Officials can safeguard elections.
2. Highlight the benefits of flexibility and reducing crowds on Election Day by offering multiple voting options
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Expanding no-excuse absentee & early voting cuts down on the crowds and long lines on Election Day and gives voters flexibility in casting their ballot.
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The League of Women Voters supports expansion of early voting because it reduces the administrative burden on Election Day. Officials should expand the number of days and hours polling places are open for early voting leading up to Election Day.
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Election officials should designate COVID-19 as an excuse for absentee voting so that more voters can take advantage of this option. [applies in states that don’t have no-excuse absentee voting]
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There are four primary things election officials need to account for in order to make vote-by-mail and absentee voting accessible:
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Provide paid postage for voters returning ballots by mail
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Make requesting and dropping off ballots accessible
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Train election workers on signature matching for mail-in ballots
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Connect with the Postal Service now to plan for an increase in mail-in ballots
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3. Counter misinformation before it happens by regularly directing voters to trusted information, including VOTE411.org
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VOTE411.org has all the accurate, multilingual, and unbiased information voters need.
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Check VOTE411 for the most up-to-date changes to your polling place related to COVID-19 in both English and Spanish.
4. Curb public expectations for immediate election results
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In this time of unprecedented circumstances, tallying votes will take more time.
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Voters should not expect all election results to be called or announced on Election Day as in previous elections, and that’s okay. A delayed result with an increased number of mailed ballots means the system is working as it should.
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A surge in mailed ballots requires our election officials to adapt their ballot counting practices, and it is important for voters to be patient. An accurate ballot count is more important than a fast ballot count.
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With the increase of absentee voting in 2020, it is essential that every vote is counted and every voter’s voice is heard. We should all prepare for many election results to be announced after Election Day.