Election Day is now less than six months away, but we still have time to make sure North Carolina voters can participate safely in this important election.
Covid-19 has impacted primary elections across the country causing delays, overcrowding, poll worker shortages, a lower turnout, and the spread of infection. With no vaccine expected this year, two-thirds of Americans expect the November election to also be impacted by Covid-19.
The North Carolina Business Council, a nonprofit advocating for local businesses across the state, urges Governor Cooper and the General Assembly to expand access to vote-by-mail.
North Carolina’s more than seven million registered voters should not be forced to choose between their health and their right to vote. And the state cannot afford to make polling places safe for all voters with the staggering cost of purchasing PPE, single-use items, cleaning supplies, and renting spaces large enough to accommodate social distancing.
According to a poll by the Pew Research Center, 70% of Americans support vote-by-mail for this election. States like Wisconsin and Ohio saw a surge in requests for absentee ballots, but struggled to respond to the demand in mailing and processing them.
North Carolina already has a vote-by-mail system in place. Any voter can request an absentee ballot without having to provide a reason. However, in 2016, only 4% of voters took advantage of this option compared to 25% of voters nationwide. Recently our state has seen a surge in absentee ballot requests and mail-in ballots are expected to increase tenfold over that of 2016.
To prepare for this, we urge Governor Cooper and the General Assembly to institute the recommendations of the State Board of Elections to scale up the vote-by-mail system.
First, funding is needed. Congress has already approved $10.9 million for North Carolina to spend on Covid-related election expenses. But to access these funds, the NC General Assembly will need to match these funds with $2.1 million in state funding. We urge them to do this promptly. Whether vote-by-mail is expanded, these funds will still be needed to purchase supplies and conduct the training needed to make polling places safe.
We also ask that Congress approve an additional $4 billion for the states to meet the true costs of a fair, safe, and secure election. In addition, we urge Congress to fund the U.S. Postal Service. Without funding, the agency is poised to run out of money in September and severely impact any vote-by-mail efforts.
Next, key changes to the absentee voting system are needed so that more people can participate and their ballots are counted.
The State Board of Elections recommends:
Creating an online portal for requesting a ballot: This will save voters from having to print out and mail in the request form.
Eliminating or reducing the witness requirement: Having two witnesses sign each ballot is harder with social distancing.
Temporarily allowing more options or residents of care facilities to receive help in requesting, voting, or returning their ballots: With many facilities on lockdown, residents should be able to get help from facility employees.
Establishing a fund to pay for postage of ballots: Among its benefits, this will decrease the chance of voters handing over their ballots to someone who may tamper with it.
Increasing the timeframe for counting ballots: With a surge in ballots and a lack of equipment to process them, state and local election officials will need more time.
Finally, to ensure participation, voters will need to know about their options for mail-in ballots. For many voters, this will be a new experience. We urge state and local officials to increase outreach and education to help voters comply with the absentee ballot rules to make sure their ballots will be counted. Businesses and local organizations can also help their employees and community members to request absentee ballots and understand how to fill them out and submit them.
Unfortunately, switching to an all vote-by-mail system is not realistic. That is why we must pair vote-by-mail with expanded early voting. North Carolina voters have already embraced early voting with 62% of voters opting for it in the 2016 presidential election. This year early voting is planned for October 15 to October 31, including Saturdays. Adding more early voting days and additional locations will not only enable more voters to take advantage of this popular option but for those who must go to the polls, including those with disabilities and those experiencing housing insecurity, they will have more confidence that they can do so safely.
As we begin the gradual reopening of our economy, many businesses and their employees are heading back to work. With all the efforts we’ve made to curtail Covid-19 infections, we must safeguard our progress both for the health of our people and the health of our economy. Businesses, their employees, and communities can flourish when they exercise their right to vote. But only if they can do so safely.
We are at a pivotal moment to ensure that North Carolina voters can keep their faith in our electoral system. Expanding our vote-by-mail options will ensure that no one has to risk their lives in order to exercise their right to vote.