In just one sentence, President Donald Trump made a bold statement about the ongoing mail-in ballot debate via his Twitter account Wednesday.
Democrats have been advocating for weeks to ensure that mail-in voting can serve as an efficient option for voters, who may only be able to vote remotely due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak across the U.S. The president admitted last week that he was blocking a $25 billion emergency injection sought by the Postal Service, as well as a Democratic proposal to provide $3.6 billion in additional election money to the states. He has commented in the past that increasing mail-in voting could lead to voter fraud.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is set to speak to the legislators about the ongoing issues with mailing when the House is recalled on Monday. On Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators protested near DeJoy’s North Carolina estate, condemning the cutbacks, delays and changes at the U.S. Postal Service that some deem as a threat to the success of absentee ballots.
While there, protesters chanted and held signs that read: “Sabotage of the USPS is un-American” and “Want to screw up the election? Screw up the Post Office?”
Seemingly in response to those protesting Sunday, Trump tweeted Wednesday that if they could protest, those folks could vote in person.
IF YOU CAN PROTEST IN PERSON, YOU CAN VOTE IN PERSON!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2020
The comments could have also been in response to the protests taking place across the country rallying against racial injustice. The tweet immediately garnered reaction Wednesday.
Elderly Americans, many of whom have pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and COPD are the ones who vote in high numbers because they are experienced and wise enough to know that elections and their votes matter. Trump wants to disenfranchise them.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) August 19, 2020
Not if local polling places are being closed in certain communities across America so people have to drive 50 to 100 miles in order to vote. That makes it hard, and on top of the Pandemic. Let’s make it easier for people to vote not harder. Don’t you vote by mail?
— Erica Gimpel (@ericagimpel) August 19, 2020
I’m not protesting so I’m voting by mail. Now if y’all quit rejecting my ballot we’ll get along just fine but I’m voting for Joe pic.twitter.com/BwtZlCuw6j
— Melissa 🌈🌈🌈🌈 (@HandsUpDontShut) August 19, 2020
Some agreed with the president’s stance.
The best way to ensure your vote is counted is to vote in person.
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) August 19, 2020
I’m a cancer survivor and a transplant patient, nothing will keep me away from voting in person! pic.twitter.com/Z1dJ2G6jaY
— Brave Warrior For Trump (@brekarjen) August 19, 2020
In June, Trump tweeted that mail-in ballots would lead to the “scandal of our times.”
“RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!”
RIGGED 2020 ELECTION: MILLIONS OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS WILL BE PRINTED BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES, AND OTHERS. IT WILL BE THE SCANDAL OF OUR TIMES!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2020
The Republican National Committee and the Trump campaign have filed lawsuit to hit back against efforts by Democrats to overhaul voting laws in response to the pandemic.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has described the ballots by mail option as the “most secure form of voting,” considering the rampant spread of coronavirus in states like Georgia.
The House will recall Monday to vote on legislation, the “Delivering for America Act,” that would prohibit the Postal Service from implementing any changes to operations or level of service it had in place on Jan. 1.
“What you are witnessing is a president of the United States who is doing everything he can to suppress the vote, make it harder for people to engage in mail-in balloting at a time when people will be putting their lives on the line by having to go out to a polling station and vote,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
Trump’s chief of staff, Mark Meadows, told reporters earlier this week that it is not the president’s intention to stifle voter turnout with some of the postal service changes.
“I’ll give you that guarantee right now: The president of the United States is not going to interfere with anybody casting their vote in a legitimate way, whether it’s the post office or anything else,” Meadows said.
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