TPAN Joins In Urging Governor Abbott To Secure The Vote
The U.S. Postal Service is warning states that it cannot guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted, even if mailed by state deadlines.
Texas Progressive Action Network has joined other civil rights organizations in calling on Governor Abbott to exercise his emergency powers during the coronavirus pandemic and ensure that every Texas voter who complies with the requirements for voting by mail will have their ballot accepted and counted by election officials this November.
In particular, we ask that Governor Abbott take the following steps towards protecting the vote:
Require county election officials to accept mail-in ballots up to seven days after Election Day, as long as they have either been postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day or are delivered via a type of mail not subject to postmarking.
Eliminate the requirement that, for applications for mail-in ballots submitted electronically (such as by fax or email), that the hard copy must also be mailed and received by the early voting clerk no later than the fourth business day thereafter, and mandate that electronic submission of an application for a ballot by mail is sufficient.
Allow voters to deliver a marked mail ballot in person to secured, county-controlled boxes located at early voting sites or early voting clerk offices, consistent with how ballots are deposited in the mail under all other circumstances.
# # #
Texas Progressive Action Network is a people powered nonprofit committed to advancing voter education and good public policy in Texas through advocacy and outreach.
--
Texas Progressive Action Network
https://www.txprogressiveaction.com/
https://twitter.com/TX_PAN