In the 2016 Presidential election, nearly one of four votes were cast by-mail and 99% of those voters returned their ballots, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.[i] Voting-by-mail was such a common occurrence during the election in 2016 that even President Trump chose to cast his ballot by-mail, as did various Trump staffers.[ii] How did voting-by-mail become a highly contested, partisan issue in the last few months? We are facing a pandemic that is unprecedented and in this new age of social distancing, voting-by-mail would be a logical course of action, but the idea is driving a wedge deeper into the partisan divide.
One reason for this seems to stem from the falsely perpetuated notion that voting-by-mail is more susceptible to voter fraud than in-person-voting. NPR reported that, “more than 250 million ballots have been cast by mail nationwide, while there have been just 143 criminal convictions for election fraud related to mail ballots…or a fraud rate of 0.00006%.”.[iii] It would be easy to assume that the empirical evidence would be enough to ease the minds of voters, but the increased divisiveness between Republican and Democrats comes from more politically driven ideologies.
Figure 1 (@realdonaldtrump) 26 May 2020. 8:17AM. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1265255835124539392?s=20 Tweet.
Figure 2 (@realdonaldtrump) 26 May 2020. 8:17AM. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1265255845358645254?s=20 Tweet.
In recent months, President Donald Trump has publicly said that he is not a supporter of voting-by-mail. He has recently tweeted false claims regarding voting-by-mail. Some feel that this attack on voting-by-mail stems from the Republican party being fearful that expanding voting-by-mail could give democrats the upper hand in the upcoming election, but there is no evidence that one party would benefit. In fact, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, analyzed voting trends from 1996-2018 regarding voting-by-mail. They found that, “vote-by-mail does not appear to affect either party’s share of turnout”.[iv] Even with this information, some republican voters are quick to dismiss the idea of voting-by-mail, even during a global pandemic.
The debate on whether to expand mail-in-voting for the upcoming elections, quickly became a partisan issue in recent months. Additionally, even with evidence showing that voting-by-mail does not relate to increased voter fraud and does not give any advantage to a single party, we are still engaging in an ongoing conversation surrounding the legitimacy and security of the practice. It is too early to tell how this increased partisanship, along with an ever-challenging pandemic, will affect voter turn-out in the upcoming 2020 Presidential election. But, one thing is for certain, it is an important conversation to be had, and one that could impact how we conduct elections in the future.
[i] Hall, Andrew, and Jennifer Wu. “The Neutral Partisan Effects of Vote-by-Mail: Evidence From County-Level Roll-Outs.” Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, Apr. 2020, siepr.stanford.edu/research/publications/neutral-partisan-effects-vote-mail-evidence-county-level-roll-outs.
[ii] Stieb, Matt. “Trump Staffers Who Voted By Mail, a Process He Calls ‘Rigged’.” New York Magazine, 22 June 2020, nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/06/every-trump-ally-who-has-voted-by-mail-list.html.
[iii] Parks, Miles. “Why Is Voting By Mail (Suddenly) Controversial? Here’s What You Need To Know.” NPR, NPR, 4 June 2020, www.npr.org/2020/06/04/864899178/why-is-voting-by-mail-suddenly-controversial-heres-what-you-need-to-know#fraud.
[iv] “Newly Released 2016 Election Administration and Voting Survey Provides Snapshot of Nation’s Voter Turnout Registration Trends Voting Systems.” U.S. Election Assistance Commission, 29 June 2017, www.eac.gov/news/2017/06/29/newly-released-2016-election-administration-and-voting-survey-provides-snapshot.
With the elections coming up in November, it is not a surprise to see President Trump to discredit mail-in ballots as in essence fraudulent. However, that doesn’t mean the claims are not dangerous to our democracy. In a recent tweet, Trump claimed that with mail in voting, “2020 will be the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history.” In the same tweet he suggested delaying the elections until we can vote in person. These recent claims are frightening, especially when you take into account the voting suppression that recently occurred in Georgia in the past few months. All the steps President Trump’s taking ultimately have the goal of getting him reelected, and the only way he knows he can achieve this is by silencing the voices of those who oppose him.
Your article was very articulate, concise, and intriguing. I liked how you included specific sources, including the President’s tweets. In recent statements, President Trump hinted at the idea of postponing the election to allow for in person voting and to prevent voter fraud. His concerns about voter fraud seem centered around the Democratic party, even though there is seemingly no evidence to support the claim that Democrats commit more voter fraud than Republicans. He later backed down these comments, but many were rightfully concerned. Many worry that President Trump’s divisive language and apprehension towards mail-in voting is leading up to him resisting leaving office if voted out in this upcoming election. Do you think there is any reality to these worries? Personally, I think President Trump should be more focused on the safety and wellbeing of American citizens rather than election results. Time will tell on the outcome of this election, but I hope President Trump’s victory or defeat is not marked by countless needless deaths from poorly operated in person voting.
Informative post. Thanks for sharing such an useful post with us. Visit: Translate English to Malagasy
In any case, I did not want to experiment with responsible tasks such as writing a dissertation, so I immediately turned to the dissertation service. From the feedback of my friends, this is the best dissertation help service. Specialists offer affordable help with writing a dissertation, prices are very reasonable.
Thanks for your marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author. I will be sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage you to continue your great posts
print Photo Glossy A0 A1 A2
I also do not like to experiment, especially with responsible works, such as writing a doctoral dissertation. Therefore, I immediately turned to the professional and proven resource https://www.phdresearch.net/ Specialists help fully from topic proposal and data analysis to creating a presentation for defense. Certified subject matter experts provide confidence at any stage of dissertation writing.
In the world of online games, Plinko stands out with its unique pyramid-shaped board filled with pegs. The thrill of the game lies in dropping a ball from the top and observing its zigzag journey to the bottom, where different rewards are assigned.
I highly recommend using the Simple App wallet for cryptocurrency, its intuitive design, user-friendly experience, and efficient management of various cryptocurrencies. It’s an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced users looking for a reliable and convenient way to handle their digital assets.
Decorating techniques are also an essential part of artistic ceramics. These include glazing, painting, and carving. Glazing is the process of applying a glass-like coating to the ceramic piece, which gives it a shiny finish. Painting involves applying colors to the piece using brushes or other tools. Carving is the process of creating intricate designs on the surface of the ceramic piece using sharp tools.
The art of crafting has been around for centuries, passed down through generations as a way to create practical and decorative items for the home. From quilting to embroidery, knitting to crochet, there are countless ways to express your creativity through domestic crafting.
WOW! this article it really great i like it
Hey, i found a great site with so many games
Just click this >>> DetikToto <<<
I am grateful that you have posted such an excellent blog or article. It is packed with information that is both amazing and helpful. Hold on to the excellent work! geometry dash lite
This is amazing share ! connections puzzle
Discover insightful perspectives on partisanship, the pandemic, and voting-by-mail with https://bigbiceps.pro/! Explore more at their website.
I cannot find words worthy of expressing my profound gratitude for the attention and knowledge you have provided. Thanks for being a solid source of inspiration.
driving directions
Immerse yourself in the vibrant music world of Friday Night Funkin‘ today!
If you want to stop pop-up ads on your Android phone, Stands is the perfect solution. It’s a free ad blocker that removes ads and pop-ups, making your browsing faster and distraction-free. Just download it for Chrome, and enjoy smoother web surfing with no impact on performance. Give it a try!
For top-notch iot app development services, Lampa.dev stands out with 9 years of experience, delivering innovative solutions that empower startups and enterprises alike to elevate their digital presence and drive business growth.
Tenho usado o free Adblocker há algum tempo e fez uma grande diferença. Sem mais aqueles anúncios irritantes ou pop-ups, e as páginas carregam muito mais rápido. Além disso, é totalmente gratuito, super fácil de instalar e não afeta a velocidade de navegação. Também reparei que estou a poupar dados, já que bloqueia o tráfego extra dos anúncios. Navegar na internet ficou muito mais suave. Se queres uma experiência mais rápida e sem distrações, recomendo muito!
https://www.standsapp.org/pt-br/chrome/
I want you to see my message I really like your article, everything. ติดต่อ sa gaming