Voting in this country has never been ‘simple’. The right to vote was originally drafted in the 15th Amendment of the Unites States Constitution and then again in the 19th and 26th Amendments. The Constitution has constantly been amended to allow for the rights of Black people, women, and all persons age 18 and over so that these, the disenfranchised, could justly exercised their right to vote.
Now here in 2020, we face another issue that threatens many Americans right to vote. While no 28th amendment is being proposed as of yet, the fact remains that in the midst of a pandemic many people are being forced to choose between their right to vote and their personal health. Did you know that of the 661 deaths reported in the entire state of Missouri (data accurate as of May 21 2020) that St. Louis County alone accounts for 57% of that number with 376 total deaths so far? This number has been steadily climbing since the current County Executive, Sam Page, re-opened the county. With no cure, remedy, or vaccine in sight, I have to ask, how many more residents have to die?
In a press briefing last week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said he does not believe risk of COVID-19 should be considered a valid excuse for absentee voting…“The absentee ballot is more of a political issue than it is anything. This is a Democrat-Republican issue, and that’s where this is all headed, is to a political answer and what’s driving behind this force.” (St. Louis Public Radio, 2020). Let Gov. Parsons know that this is not simply a “political issue”, this is a public health issue- this is a QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE!
But we don’t have to sit by idly and just accept the injustice and threat to our rights as they are presented to us. Please consider the links below and help by signing the petition and supporting causes that promote safe voting, voting from home, absentee, ballots, and early voting.
Together We Win!!
First, if your not registered, click her to register to vote
Next, make sure you don’t have to compromise your health and safety to exercise your right to vote:
Request and Absentee Ballot.
Support U.S. Senator Kamala Harris’ VoteSafe Act of 2020
The VoteSafe Act of 2020 would:
- Authorize $5 billion to expand vote-by-mail and early voting and to improve the safety and accessibility of polling places during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Require states to permit no-excuse mail-in absentee voting.
- Require states to maintain an early voting period of at least 20 days.
- Provide grants for states to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of polling places in the following ways:
- Ensuring that elections are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
- Ensuring adequate protections for language minority voters.
- Ensuring voting access for American Indian, Alaska Native, and rural voters.
- Implementing and promoting curbside voting.
- Implementing and meeting a maximum wait time standard or publishing current wait times for voters.
- Providing for the training and recruitment of poll workers.
- Improving access to voter registration.