The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted primary elections across the nation, leading sixteen states to postpone their primaries and sharply reducing turnout in others. It has become clear that the United States cannot conduct a free and fair election under current conditions.
Nobody should have to risk their life to vote. In order to avoid a nationwide breakdown in November, states must act immediately to increase vote-by-mail capacity, ensure safe and accessible in-person voting for those who need it, and guarantee an accurate and secure election count.
We've identified essential emergency reforms that are needed in order for the US to hold a free, fair, and safe election in November. In addition to a fact sheet looking at the nation as a whole, we've provided state-focused information for several states.
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Citation
Latner, Michael, Taofik Oladipo. 2020. COVID-19 Underscores the Need for Voting Reform. Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/covid-19-underscores-need-voting-reform
In this report
Voting and COVID-19
Building a Healthier Democracy
