Posted by eyupp on February 16, 2019June 28, 2020

I...wouldn't have thought otherwise.
Great, put it in your cal. Yesterday, President Trump caused a stir when he floated delaying it. His reason: states are considering expanding mail-in voting options to provide Americans with a variety of ways to vote safely during the coronavirus pandemic. But Trump isn't a fan. He said the trend will lead to "the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history."

Will it?
If so, Trump didn't provide the evidence. There have been instances of mail-in voting fraud in the past. But to date, evidence of mail-in voting fraud is extremely rare, despite nearly one in four Americans reportedly using the system in 2016. The president himself has apparently voted by mail at least three times – and he wasn't the only one in his admin either.

Interesting.
So is this: One recent study also found mail-in voting doesn't benefit one party over another. It's worth noting: Trump didn't imply that he personally would delay the election – legally he can't do that (only Congress can). But many on both sides of the aisle pushed back at the suggestion anyway. And some noted the US has never before delayed a federal election – even through wars and the Great Depression.

So nothing to do until November?
Not exactly. Every state has its own deadline for when you need to request an absentee or mail-in ballot...if those options are even available. And with more mail-in voting options this year, the US Postal Service is encouraging voters to plan ahead. If you wait until the last minute to decide how to vote, you could be cutting it close. We're now less than 100 days away from the election – time to make a game plan.

Now what?
Over 180 million Americans will reportedly have the opportunity to mail in their ballots this fall. This produces real challenges for postal workers and election officials as they work to ensure all votes are counted. But it's also an opportunity to expand voting accessibility and enable Americans to safely exercise their right to vote. Make sure you're all set.