Mail-in voting preparations underway
Sun illuminates the countryside along North Bridgewater Road in Bridgewater, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Nine states will be sending out ballots to all voters for the November general election, in an effort to ensure safe voting during the pandemic.
One of those states is Vermont, and Gov. Phil Scott is confident in the mail-in voting plan, Vermont Public Radio reported. All active registered voters in Vermont will be sent a general election ballot in two weeks. The governor disagreed with some of his fellow Republicans, who have raised concerns about voter fraud.
"I think the mail-in type of approach is new," Scott told VPR Wednesday. "I think it could have been done in a different way. The reality is that's the way it's going to be done in Vermont, and I believe it will be done successfully."
The Washington Post reported that their analysis of three states with universal mail voting "found a minuscule number of potentially fraudulent ballots in recent elections, undercutting assertions that such practices open the door to rampant fraud."
In that same August report, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey — which is also doing universal mail-in voting in November — emphasized keeping the process safe while maintaining voting access.
“Ensuring that every voter has the ability to securely cast their ballot, while protecting public health, is our paramount concern," Murphy told the Post. "The recent primary election gave us the opportunity to see what worked and where we could make improvements.”
Massachusetts is doing the same. On Wednesday, Secretary of State William Galvin said the state's mail-in voting effort was a "great success" in the primary, NBC Boston reported Wednesday, but more funding was needed for the November election to go smoothly.
As states move forward with their plans, the concerns surrounding the Postal Service still loom very large. About 20 states have expanded or eased access to mail-in voting for the Nov. 3 election, according to The Washington Post. States and voters have important roles in protecting the integrity of mail-in voting systems, especially in such a crucial election. It will be challenging, but it's a duty that must be done, and now is the time for everyone to work to support these efforts.
— Gareth Henderson
