Read on Twitter
There's been some twitter sniping over the difficulty of voting in Alabama. Folks who should know better are adding more heat than light to a real problem that needs a real solution.
So here's a thread that talks #FACTS not #TAKES:
So here's a thread that talks #FACTS not #TAKES:
About 17% of Alabamians are age 65+. That's ~827,000 of us.
Take a look at the top causes of death in Alabama in 2018 (via @ALPublicHealth annual report). Notice anything? Most of the conditions that put folks at risk of COVID-19 are preexisting conditions for Alabamians.
Take a look at the top causes of death in Alabama in 2018 (via @ALPublicHealth annual report). Notice anything? Most of the conditions that put folks at risk of COVID-19 are preexisting conditions for Alabamians.
Just yesterday, Dr. Robert Redfield (CDC director) said the second wave of COVID-19, which would occur in flu season, could be worse than this one.
Know when flu season kicks up? That's right. Election time. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-winter/cdc-chief-warns-2nd-covid-19-wave-may-be-worse-arriving-with-flu-season-idUSKCN2233E8
Know when flu season kicks up? That's right. Election time. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-winter/cdc-chief-warns-2nd-covid-19-wave-may-be-worse-arriving-with-flu-season-idUSKCN2233E8
So, this isn't far-fetched. It is foreseeable, and why we need to act now.
Think about what you saw in Wisconsin: folks waiting hours to vote, lawsuits, and tons of unnecessary personal risk. Now imagine it's you + the most vulnerable people you love in this picture:
Think about what you saw in Wisconsin: folks waiting hours to vote, lawsuits, and tons of unnecessary personal risk. Now imagine it's you + the most vulnerable people you love in this picture:
Here's the kicker: We talk a lot about making voting easy. It should be!
But it offers *no partisan advantage.* More opportunities to vote won't naturally result in more Democrats getting elected. That's not a secret.
But it offers *no partisan advantage.* More opportunities to vote won't naturally result in more Democrats getting elected. That's not a secret.
A study last week from Stanford University (Condi's old school, not SAMford) confirms this regarding vote by mail. This study looks at elections from 1996 to 2018. It shows increased participation + no real change in outcome.
It's not an outlier. http://www.andrewbenjaminhall.com/Thompson_et_al_VBM.pdf
It's not an outlier. http://www.andrewbenjaminhall.com/Thompson_et_al_VBM.pdf
Making voting easy is good government. It's like picking up the trash gets from the curb on time, filling potholes, and ensuring clean water comes out the tap.
There is no reason voting has to be hard, unless people want it to be. We want more voters. Participation is good!
There is no reason voting has to be hard, unless people want it to be. We want more voters. Participation is good!
Don't just take our word for it though.
Look at all the states around the country that allow no-excuse absentee, including vote by mail; in-person early voting; etc. Plenty of Republican Govs and Secretaries of State agree these are sensible.
Look at all the states around the country that allow no-excuse absentee, including vote by mail; in-person early voting; etc. Plenty of Republican Govs and Secretaries of State agree these are sensible.
Here's an op-ed by Ben Ginsberg. He's a Republican elections lawyer. Worked for George W. Bush, the RNC, and a bunch of other big-time Republican campaigns.
He also thinks we should act now to save November. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/opinion/coronavirus-2020-election.html
He also thinks we should act now to save November. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/26/opinion/coronavirus-2020-election.html
There's no reason voting has to be hard. Easier voting doesn't change election outcomes. Ratioing and pwning won't keep our seniors + vulnerable safe from COVID-19 on Election Day. This is a big problem and it needs a real solution.
So we want:
No-excuse absentee, including vote by mail;
Two weeks' in-person early voting; and
A bipartisan task force on civic resilience.
Elections and, more importantly, voters don't have to be vulnerable to weather, disease, and other dangers.
We can do better.
No-excuse absentee, including vote by mail;Two weeks' in-person early voting; andA bipartisan task force on civic resilience. Elections and, more importantly, voters don't have to be vulnerable to weather, disease, and other dangers.
We can do better.
