COVID-19 Stimulus Package Falls Short of Adequate Election Funding

The League is committed to supporting states in executing stimulus funding for 2020 elections while calling for more

WASHINGTON - The League of Women Voters of the United States CEO Virginia Kase issued the following statement following the U.S. Senate’s unanimous, bipartisan passage of the CARES Act – the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act:

“The American people are suffering, and this third stimulus package will begin to get the hard-working people of our country the desperately needed relief they require right now, but one critical element is lacking: adequate funding to ensure voters can safely participate in the 2020 elections.

“The $400 million included in this third relief deal is a mere fraction of what is needed for all voters to safely cast their ballot with confidence this November. The League of Women Voters called for a minimum investment of $2 billion dollars to states and the District of Columbia to appropriately increase vote by mail, expand early voting and online registration, and implement safety provisions to ensure voting facilitates and poll workers are protected.

“These are unprecedented times, as we see states across the country delaying elections in order to keep voters safe. Now is the time for legislators to appropriately safeguard the 2020 elections and instill confidence in the voting public.

“If Congress is serious about preserving the integrity of our elections, funding needs to be a priority in the next stimulus package.

“The League of Women Voters stands ready and willing to work with lawmakers to appropriately plan and implement the flexible measures that will ensure our November elections are safe and accessible for all.”

Contact: Sarah Courtney | 202-263-1332 | [email protected]