As the coronavirus continues to sweep the nation, infecting over 561, 875 people, states, lawmakers and politicians are exploring ways to proceed with November’s general election, if the effects of the pandemic persist.
In fact, in a recently released press release, Forever First Lady Michelle Obama announced her support for safe, secure, and accessible elections by expanding voting options and online registration.
Through her nonpartisan voting initiative, When We All Vote, Obama is looking to push lawmakers to give voters the option to vote by mail or early, in person, amid the pandemic.
“Americans should never have to choose between making their voices heard and keeping themselves and their families safe. We know that barriers to voting existed before this crisis, especially for young people and communities of color. Expanding access to vote-by-mail, online voter registration, and early voting are critical steps for this moment— and they’re long overdue. There is nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country, making the democracy we all cherish more accessible, and protecting our neighbors, friends, and loved ones as they participate in this cornerstone of American life,” said When We All Vote Co-Chair Michelle Obama.
According to the press release, the initiative will also encourage Americans to take action, by spreading the word and educating other Americans on how they can vote; to get informed by learning the policies in their states, in regards to the voting options and registrations, and to call or email federal legislators to “let them know they support expanding access to vote-by-mail.”
“If the U.S. expects to lead the world in conducting free and fair elections, then we owe it to our citizens to do everything in our power to make sure our elections are safe and fair for everyone. Our mission as an organization is to change the culture around voting and help increase voter participation in every election by closing the race and age gap. So it’s our responsibility to help all voters exercise their right to vote, and to give them the best information on exactly how to do that. It’s also our responsibility to advocate for fair and safe access to our elections,” said Valerie Jarrett, When We All Vote Board Chair.
