VOTING DURING A

PANDEMIC
VALORIE ANTONE & KATHRYN WHITEHEAD

- Vote by Mail and Absentee Ballots

INTRODUCTION
- The presidential election of 2020 was one of the most important elections in the history of the
United States. Beyond the policy brutality, racism, and political parties conflict, the United
States had another crisis to manage this election: navigating a presidential election,
candidates campaigning, and ensuring Americans’ could vote during COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 AND VOTING
- According to the CDC, as of November 30, 2020, there have been over 3 million cases of
COVID-19, with over 200,000 deaths across the country (cdc.gov, 2020).
- While Maine maintained its policies and procedures, California’s governor, Gavin Newsom,
introduced a new executive order. “The order requires that each county’s elections officials
send vote-by-mail ballots for the November 3, 2020 General Election to all registered voters.
- Maine executive order; Extends the deadline for voter registration applications submitted by
mail or third person from October 13, 2020 to October 19, 2020. In-person voter registration
may still occur up to and on election day.
SCOPE OF
THE
PROBLEM
- Not allowing vote by mail is
impeding on voter’s
constitutional rights by creating
barriers.
- Due to the limited poll workers
and hours, long lines, absentee
ballot deadlines, and other
issues, this proves that voter
suppression continues to be an
injustice alive today.
BENEFITS OF
VOTE BY
MAIL
- Vote by mail has shown to be more cost
effective, has allowed for a person to take
their time and complete research if needed,
from the comfort of their home, and it has
shown an increase in participation.
- A 2016 study of Colorado from the Pew
Charitable Trusts found that costs decreased
an average of 40% in five election
administration categories after
implementing vote-by-mail”.
- The ACLU disputed false claims that mail in
voting would increase the number of
fraudulent votes.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on this policy analysis of Maine and across the country, it is our
recommendation to have:

● Absentee ballots be replaced with mail-in voting

● Polls having longer hours of operation/having access to earlier voting at
polls
● Decrease wait time and lines by having more staff available
● Implement more polling places
 References

American Civil Liberties Union. (2020, October 2). Voting by mail is easier and safer than you 

think. here’s how. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/news/voting-rights/voting-by-mail-is-easier-and-safer-than-you-think-heres-how/

Center for Disease Control. (2020, November 30). Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). 

Cdc.org. https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#cases_casesper100klast7days

Department of the Secretary of State. (2020, August, 27). Governor mills signs executive order 

to facilitate voting, protect health of voters & election officials amid covid-19 pandemic. Maine.gov. https://www.maine.gov/sos/news/2020/eo-covid-19protectvoterselectionofficials.html

DeRienzo, M. (2020, October 26). Maine, an otherwise progressive voting rights state, won’t 

change absentee ballot deadline. The Center for Public Integrity. 

https://publicintegrity.org/politics/elections/us-polling-places/maine-vote-wont-change-ab

sentee-ballot-deadline/.  

Hernandez, M. D. (2014, September). All-mail elections. National Conference of State Legislators. 

https://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/all-mail-elections635457869.aspx.League of Women Voters of Chicago. (n.d.). Pros & cons of mail-in voting. League of Women 

Voters of Chicago. https://my.lwv.org/illinois/chicago/article/pros-cons-mail-voting.

Office of Governor Gavin Newsom. (2020, May 8). Governor newsom issues executive order to 

protect public health by mailing every registered voter a ballot ahead of the november general election. Ca.gov. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/05/08/governor-newsom-issues-executive-order-to-protect-public-health-by-mailing-every-registered-voter-a-ballot-