Coronavirus and the Future of U.S. Elections

The coronavirus was the crisis none of us saw coming. For the last few months, the global pandemic has disrupted the way we work, go to school, and carry out many of the daily activities that we once took for granted. Amid ongoing social distancing measures, there has been growing debate among politicians about the best way for states to proceed with their primary elections. Primaries typically mark the start of the election season. During these races for local, state, and national offices, political parties determine which of their candidates will be listed on the ticket come November's general election. Primaries, along with all other U.S. elections, are run by state and municipal election administrations. This fact explains why specific election rules and procedures typically vary between the states. States have responded and adapted differently to this strange election season. In April, images of Wisconsin voters garbed in masks and protective gear as they stood in long lines to cast their ballots garnered national attention- and harsh criticism- from those who say the election should have been postponed. Several states have delayed their primaries and run-off elections to dates later in the summer. Others have taken action to expand their mail-in ballot options so voters do not have to show up at the polls in-person. Certain scientific models have predicted a COVID-19 resurgence in the fall and there has been a push to administer the 2020 General Election completely by-mail. By-mail, or absentee ballots, are viewed as an attractive alternative opinion to many because they allow people to vote from the comfort and safety of their own homes. Washington is among five states who carry out all of their elections using a “vote-by-mail” system. Voters receive ballots in the mail, which are sent out by their state’s elections office. They complete their ballots and then send them back to the elections office via mail or in person. On the other hand, there are also concerns that sweeping efforts to allow for expanded mail-in voting options in the states could lead to voter fraud and politically motivated ballot harvesting. Regardless of where you stand in the vote-by-mail debate- one thing is clear. Currently, many states lack the election infrastructure needed to handle the unprecedented surge in the number of absentee applications and mail-in ballots they would receive if they are required to quickly expand their vote-by-mail system. Remember Wisconsin? Some of the people standing in those long lines to vote were people who had applied to receive absentee (mail-in) ballots, only to never receive them before election day. It was eventually discovered that 9,000 or more absentee ballots were either never sent out to voters or never received by election officials. The failures of Wisconsin’s primary election are handwriting on the wall, warning of what could happen when ill-equip states rush to expand their absentee ballot systems. More measures should be put in place to safeguard the integrity of state-run vote-by-mail systems to protect the rights of voters if there is a serious concern that more people will not be able to vote in-person this fall. So what will become of the 2020 General Election? For now, there are no plans underway to delay it. President Trump does not have the constitutional authority to change its dates; however, Congress does.

With new developments in the Coronavirus situation coming out what seems like daily, it may still be too soon to tell what the upcoming months will hold.