Mitch McConnell vs. Fair Elections

FRED WERTHEIMER’S WEEKLY NOTE | April 16, 2020

 

President Trump has been a dangerous threat to our democratic values, our constitutional system of government, and now, with his incompetent and narcissistic pandemic performance, to the very lives of untold numbers of Americans.

That’s why the November presidential election is considered by many to be the most important election in our lifetimes.

Voting by mail has become far more important in this election than ever before, with voters worried about showing up at their precincts to vote during the ongoing health crisis, which may well still be with us in the fall. Also, additional steps are required to ensure that those voters who do vote in person can do so safely.

The states need substantial additional funding to run their elections in November under the changed circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic.

States will face far greater costs than they have before to pay for the increased volume of voting by mail that will occur, as well as for implementing early voting, conducting in-person voting, and making adjustments in their voting procedures.

There is bipartisan support from state election officials on the urgent need for substantial additional federal funds to run their elections.

However, it has become a partisan issue in Congress with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocking essential, substantial funds, with no apparent basis for doing so, except an attempt to gain partisan advantage in November by having fewer Americans vote.

Democracy 21 has joined with more than 150 organizations to make an all-out effort to have Congress provide at least $4 billion in the next major stimulus relief bill to run safe, secure, and honest elections in November.

This is a battle that will come down to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer versus Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

It is a battle that must be won.

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