We are down to the "Floundering Four" states on Vote By Mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Rachel Barnhart: National Media Strategist

WE ARE DOWN TO THE “FLOUNDERING FOUR” STATES ON VOTE BY MAIL

Missouri dropped off the list by expanding absentee ballot access.

Four states are not acting to keep voters safe in the pandemic and beyond.

RepresentUs is waging a bipartisan national campaign to make Vote by Mail options available in all 50 states.

Our interactive tool provides the latest updates on which states offer Vote by Mail options and connects voters to an absentee ballot.

FLORENCE, MASS. (June 5, 2020): After Missouri’s governor signed into a law a measure to expand absentee ballot access, we are down to the “Floundering Four” states that have so far refused to expand Vote by Mail options in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Missouri, which requires an excuse to vote by mail, will allow people at higher risk for COVID-19, such as the elderly or people with existing health conditions, to vote absentee without having their ballot notarized. All other voters will also have the opportunity, now, to vote absentee, but will need their ballots notarized. The law will cover the August 4 primary and November general election.

While some states are quickly expanding secure vote-by-mail options, the “Floundering Four” states have yet to take action, forcing voters to choose between their health and exercising the fundamental right to vote.

Here are the “Floundering Four:”

Louisiana

Mississippi

Tennessee

Texas

“Missouri voters can now vote safely without having to worry about coronavirus. We thank the governor for giving voters this option,” said Josh Silver, Co-Founder, and Director of RepresentUs. “Time is running out for other states to expand absentee ballot access for primaries and the general election.”

Since RepresentUs first called out states lagging on expanding Vote by Mail, six states — New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Connecticut, Missouri, and Kentucky — have joined Alabama, Delaware, Indiana, and West Virginia in making temporary exceptions to increase vote-by-mail options due to COVID.

Two other states had already broadened absentee voting for some elections below the statewide level: Arkansas and Massachusetts. Virginia made their temporary reforms permanent by enacting legislation that will allow any registered voter to request an absentee ballot.

Vote by Mail is the default in five states: Colorado, Washington, Utah, Hawaii, and Oregon. In the others, most voters have to request an absentee ballot. And in 16 states, voters must provide an excuse to get an absentee ballot. Check out our frequently updated interactive map and tool that connects voters to an absentee ballot in their state.

Silver, who co-authored this op-ed in Newsweek about Vote by Mail, is available for phone or video interviews about RepresentUs’ campaign to expand Vote by Mail.

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RepresentUs is the nation’s largest grassroots anti-corruption campaign, bringing together conservatives, progressives, and everyone in between to pass anti-corruption laws in cities and states to stop political bribery, end secret money, and fix our broken elections.