Michelle Obama group backs expanding voting options for 2020

A voter initiative led by Michelle Obama anunced support Monday for making it easier for people to register to vote and cast ballots during coronavirus pandemic.

When We All Vote, a npartisan voting initiative, says Americans should have greater access to voting by mail, early in-person voting and online voter registration.

anuncement follows last weeks primary election in Wisconsin, where thousands of people waited hours in line — without protective gear and in defiance of orders to stay home — after state Supreme Court overturned goverr’s order to postpone vote as more than a dozen or states have done because of  pandemic. Thousands of or Wisconsin voters, unwilling to risk ir health, stayed home.

When We All Vote's anuncement also comes amid vociferous opposition by President Donald Trump to mail-in voting.

former first ly, a co-chair of organization, said expanding access to vote-by-mail, online voter registration and early voting are long overdue “critical steps for this moment.”

“Americans should never have to choose between making ir voices heard and keeping mselves and ir families safe,” she said in a statement. “re is thing partisan about striving to live up to promise of our country: making democracy we all cherish more accessible, and protecting our neighbours, friends and loved ones as y participate in this cornerstone of American life.”

Mrs Obama’s role with group is her most high-profile effort since she left White House in early 2017.

Trump has claimed without evidence that expanding mail-in voting will increase voter fraud. Despite his assertions, several GOP state officials are moving forward with plans for mail-in voting in ir states.

re is evidence of widespre mail voting fraud. most prominent recent fraud case occurred in  rth Carolina’s 9th Congressional District in 2018, when a consultant hired by GOP candidate was linked to an effort to tamper with absentee ballots.

When We All Vote says expanded access to vote-by-mail could be only safe and secure option for some Americans, especially those living under state orders to stay at home during pandemic. It wants states to offer more options to request, receive and return mail-in ballots using free or prepaid post.

Early in-person voting will allow ballots to be cast without jeopardizing  social distancing guidelines, group said. It presents online voting as a safe and secure option that would continue a trend of conducting government business online, saving public money and reducing errors in voter rolls.

Election Day is v. 3

Currently, five states — Coloro, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah — conduct all elections entirely by mail, according to National Conference of State Legislatures. At least 21 or states have laws that allow certain smaller elections, such as school board contests, to be conducted by mail.

Forty states, including five with all-mail elections, and District of Columbia offer in-person early voting, according to state legislatures' association. Delaware has enacted early voting, but it will t be in place until 2022. Nine states do t offer in-person voting before Election Day.

Mrs Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 with co-chairs actor Tom Hanks, “Hamilton” creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, singer-songwriter Janelle Monae, NBA player Chris Paul and husband-and-wife country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.