Accessing the Vote During a Pandemic

ABSTRACT

From the Document State and local election administrators across the country are planning for voting in primaries and the November general election during the rapidly evolving COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic. These officials are guided by the deeply held belief that every eligible voter be afforded a safe opportunity to vote. Election administrators are drafting realistic contingency plans for voting in real-time. They do not, however, have the power to implement these plans without state policymakers who may need to adjust, at least temporarily, state requirements to make voting work during a public health crisis. Policymakers need to understand the full breadth of issues that can arise throughout the remainder of the primary season and the general election campaign if election administrators are not given the room to be flexible and meet voters where they are.COVID-19 (Disease);Elections;Voting