Vote by Mail:
Sealed and Delivered
Vote by mail has been a staple of voting in the United States since the 1930’s. It is now time to expand the system. Democrats are pushing to make it law, in every state.
OPINION: Vote By Mail
Sealed and Delivered
By Trevor K. McNeil
Last month several Democratic Senators and Representatives introduced legislation that would require all voters to mail in or drop off paper ballots if 25 percent of states declare a state of emergency because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
New World Order
A lot has changed in recent months. A surprising number of people, who should really know better, have started referring to this as “the new normal.” If there is a glimmer of hope amidst the fear and the death surrounding COVID-19, it is that we humans are a highly adaptive species. The fact that we still exist is testament to our adaptability and resourcefulness. The coronavirus has changed our environment, but that doesn’t mean we need to stop doing what is important, including performing our civil duty by voting.
Changes
“Stay at home, stay safe” orders have changed our lives. One of the biggest changes is a switch towards remote work, app banking, grocery delivery, and home schooling. This is life in the age of social distancing. There are, however, things that are not so simply accounted for as work, shopping, banking or education. These activities have had an established correspondence system for years. One of the major issues that has arisen, in this election year, is how people are supposed to vote when they have to stay at home and self-isolate.
Computers Can’t Solve This One
Online voting has proponents, but many opponents. Most argue it is to easy to hack.
One of the proposed solutions for voting, during COVID-19 is online voting. Online voting has been debated for years. Proponents stress the convenience, mobility and accessibility of an online, or phone voting system, while detractors hype the risks. Opponents most reasonable argument centers on the risk of hacking. Many opponents claim online voting would spell the end of democracy. Of course, these also tend to be the same folks who are suspicious in general, who extol the wonders of the good old days of typewriters and whiteout. Neither the pro or con position is particularly helpful in terms of solving the issue of finding the safest and most efficient voting system.
