Coronacast Episode 02 – Universal Vote by Mail: Ensuring Health and Securing Democracy

On this election-special episode, NYU Wagner students Abe Nelson and Alexis Richards discuss the pandemic and universal ‘Vote by Mail’ – a policy that could allow all American voters to mail in their ballots in the 2020 Presidential election. Could this keep voters safe amidst the Coronavirus outbreak? We break down the pros and possible cons for you, while also providing a short news update of the week.

 

THE OBSTACLES:

• Printing and sending a ballot and prepaid return envelope to every registered American, then processing those ballots, would easily cost $2 billion.
• New procedures would need to be put in place rapidly in 45 states (UT, HI, OR, WA, and CO already have universal vote by mail), since states run their own elections.
• President Trump claimed voting by mail is vulnerable to fraud and harmful to Republican candidates.
• Many states actively suppress voter access, especially for voters of color. These same states were disproportionately active in purging 17 million voters from voting rolls between 2016 – 2018. There is currently little incentive for these state officials to change course.

TRANSCRIPT:

0:00: Welcome from hosts Rhea and Luisa

0:40: News segment 

3:50: Interview with Abe and Alexis

18:16: Wrap up

 

NEWS SEGMENT LINKS:

• At Senate Hearing, Government Experts Paint Bleak Picture of the Pandemic
• Trump calls Fauci remarks on risks to reopening schools, economy unacceptable
• As more than two-thirds of states reopen, the U.S. faces a delicate moment.
• New York Extends Stay-At-Home Order, Allows Some Areas To Begin Reopening
• FDA clears home testing kits 
• Portugal gives migrants and asylum-seekers full citizenship rights during coronavirus outbreak
• Moderna Coronavirus Vaccine Trial Shows Promising Early Results
• Trump says he has been taking hydroxychloroquine, a drug whose effectiveness against the virus is unproven.

VOTE BY MAIL RESOURCES/LINKS:

• Fair Fight
• When We All Vote
• Vote Save America | Vote Safe, America
• ACLU People Power
• Let America Vote