Despite virus threat, Black voters wary of voting by mail

[Nevilledog]

https://apnews.com/0dc414e6bf09ed27dd3c801344ead71c

DETROIT (AP) — Despite fears that the coronavirus pandemic will worsen, Victor Gibson said he’s not planning to take advantage of Michigan’s expanded vote-by-mail system when he casts his ballot in November.

The retired teacher from Detroit just isn’t sure he can trust it. Many Black Americans share similar concerns and are planning to vote in person on Election Day, even as mail-in voting expands to more states as a safety precaution during the pandemic.

For many, historical skepticism of a system that tried to keep Black people from the polls and worries that a mailed ballot won’t get counted outweigh the prospect of long lines and health dangers from a virus that’s disproportionately affected communities of color. Ironically, suspicion of mail-in voting aligns with the views of President Donald Trump, whom many Black voters want out of office.

Trump took it a step further Tuesday, suggesting a “delay” to the Nov. 3 presidential election — which would take an act of Congress — as he made unsubstantiated allegations in a tweet that increased mail-in voting will result in fraud.

*snip*

[Thekaspervote]

1. I actually think that makes sense, or vote early in person. Mail ins..hand deliver to county clerk

[Solomon]

2. My wife and i were discussing this last week.

We want to do mail in, but be allowed to take it and drop it off ourselves.

I heard there was some state, i forget which, that either has legislated or is considering enacting a law that mail ins cannot hand deliver their ballots.

[Buckeyeblue]

3. I'm voting in person.

[Delarage]

4. Me, too.

I'm afraid, with all 45's blithering and whining, that he's actually projecting--as he often does--so that he and his cronies, Putin, whoever, can mess with the mail in ballots and then, when we complain, say "you're the ones that wanted it!"

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. I only hope Mr Gibson acts on his good intentions.

It's satisfying when the poll worker runs your ballot through the checker (or shredder, as I like to call it), and it reports back as "clean", no mistakes.

But I vote absentee. I get the ballot, vote at leisure, studying the proposals, the non-partisan candidates for judge etc. Then I drive it to the city clerk's office to drop it off.

Voting in person can be iffy, esp in Detroit, where it can be a hassle if the weather is not cooperating, or if a illness or injury makes it difficult.

[FakeNoose]

6. Luckily I'm in a blue city & county and Pennsylvania will go blue this year :-)

I'm so happy that I can say that!

[Crunchy Frog]

7. I'm not surprised, as he's making it pretty clear that he's

going to try to ensure that mail in ballots won't be counted, especially if they come from minority areas.