Commentary: Today, 51 State Democratic Party Chairs from across the United States, the Territories, and Democrats Abroad released a letter urging swift action from federal and state elected officials to protect our voting infrastructure from the coronavirus.
The letter from the 51 State Democratic Party Chairs reads as follows:
We, the undersigned Democratic State Party Chairs, are calling for immediate federal and state action to ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot without the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
The United States of America is simultaneously in the midst of an unprecedented global viral outbreak and an extremely consequential series of elections. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has halted virtually all public gatherings and rendered the act of leaving one’s home for non-essential reasons dangerous. As things stand, both of these acts are necessary for millions of American voters to uphold their Constitutional right to select their representatives.
Every state is currently unprepared to address the seismic shift in election administration necessary to ensure the 2020 election proceeds during a pandemic and must start implementing these changes by mid-April. The funding is needed right now to protect the 2020 election.
If left unchanged, our current electoral system poses a severe public health risk that could rapidly accelerate the spread of COVID-19 while disenfranchising countless voters and calling into question the legitimacy of our elections. Just like our healthcare system and our economy, our elections infrastructure will need a massive infusion of resources to ensure that elections can go on and every voter has access to the ballot during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To remedy this untenable situation, we urge federal lawmakers to immediately appropriate at least $2 billion for state and local elections administrators to implement the following reforms:
a universal and easily accessible vote-by-mail system which should include:
provisions for free or prepaid postage,
allowing ballots postmarked by election day to count,
reforming any signature match laws to protect voters,
and allowing community organizations to collect and deliver voted, sealed ballots.
extended early voting periods to allow for in-person voters to practice social distancing
expanded voter registration options, including both online and same-day registration
voter outreach and education to raise awareness around these changes
prohibition of polling place adjustments that disproportionately affect marginalized communities
ensure that the millions of overseas American voters can participate fully in the political process
We recognize that these proposals are not made in a vacuum and that the debate surrounding electoral reform is mired in partisanship. However, we are also heartened to see political leaders setting aside party affiliation and acting in the best interest of our nation. As our government takes action to protect our economy from COVID-19, we cannot and will not allow our democracy to fall by the wayside.
Action to safeguard our electoral system cannot wait. In a matter of weeks, millions of Americans across several states will be asked to vote in municipal and primary elections, and they deserve better than the impossible choice between preserving their well-being and casting their ballots.
Federal, state and local policymakers and election officials need to act right now to protect the health of our families, neighbors and communities and ensure that our core democratic functions including elections can continue to function.
Ken Martin
President, Association of State Democratic Committees
Chair, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
Raymond Buckley
President Emeritus
Chair, New Hampshire Democratic Party
Christopher England
Chair, Alabama Democratic Party
Casey Steinau
Chair, Alaska Democratic Party
Aliitama Sotoa
Chair, Democratic Party of American Samoa
Michael John Gray
Chair, Democratic Party of Arkansas
Rusty Hicks
Chair, California Democratic Party
Morgan Carroll
Chair, Colorado Democratic Party
Nancy Wyman
Chair, Connecticut Democratic Party
Erik Raser-Schramm
Chairman, Delaware Democratic Party
Julia Bryan
Chair, Democrats Abroad
Charles Wilson
Chair, District of Columbia Democratic State Committee
Terrie Rizzo
Chairwoman, Florida Democratic Party
Nikema Williams
Chair, Democratic Party of Georgia
Kate Stanley
Chair, Democratic Party of Hawaii
Evangeline Beechler
Chair, Idaho Democratic Party
John Zody
Chair, Indiana Democratic Party
Mark Smith
Chair, Iowa Democratic Party
Vicki Hiatt
Chair, Kansas Democratic Party
Ben Self
Chair, Kentucky Democratic Party
Kathleen Marra
Chair, Maine Democratic Party
Yvette Lewis
Chair, Maryland Democratic Party
Gus Bickford
Chair, Massachusetts Democratic Party
Lavora Barnes
Chair, Michigan Democratic Party
Bobby Moak
Chairman, Mississippi Democratic Party
Jean Peters Baker
Chair, Missouri Democratic Party
Robyn Driscoll
Chair, Montana Democratic Party
Jane Kleeb
Chair, Nebraska Democratic Party
William McCurdy II
Chair, Nevada State Democratic Party
Marg Elliston
Chair, Democratic Party of New Mexico
Jay Jacobs
Chair, New York State Democratic Party
Wayne Goodwin
Chairman, North Carolina Democratic Party
Kylie Oversen
Chairwoman, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party
Nola Hix
Chair, Northern Mariana Islands Democratic Party
David Pepper
Chair, Ohio Democratic Party
Alicia Andrews
Chair, Oklahoma Democratic Party
Carla “KC” Hanson
Chair, Democratic Party of Oregon
Nancy Patton Mills
Chair, Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Charles Rordriguez
Chairman, Puerto Rico Democratic Party
Trav Robertson
Chair, South Carolina Democratic Party
Randy Seiler
Chair, South Dakota Democratic Party
Mary Mancini
Chair, Tennessee Democratic Party
Gilberto Hinojosa
Chair, Texas Democratic Party
Jeff Merchant
Chair, Utah Democratic Party
Terje Anderson
Chair, Vermont Democratic Party
Susan Swecker
Chair, Democratic Party of Virginia
Cecil R. Benjamin
Chairman, Democratic Party of the Virgin Islands
Tina Podlodowski
Chair, Washington State Democratic Party
Belinda Biafore
Chair, West Virginia Democratic Party
Ben Wikler
Chair, Democratic Party of Wisconsin
Joseph M. Barbuto
Chair, Wyoming Democratic Party