$2 BILLION NEEDED FOR VOTE-BY-MAIL SO VOTERS DON'T HAVE 'AMMUNITION TO STAY HOME' AMID CORONAVIRUS,

[BadGimp]

Source: Newsweek.com

BY RAMSEY TOUCHBERRY ON 4/1/20 AT 3:55 PM EDT

Democrats are pushing for billions of federal dollars to be included in a fourth economic stimulus package for state elections as the coronavirus pandemic is forcing primaries to be postponed and threatens to impact the November contest.

At least $2 billion is needed, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday, money that would be invested in vote-by-mail and election security efforts, such as no-excuse absentee voting, expanding voter registration and more early voting.

"Vote-by-mail is so important to our democracy so that people have access to voting and not being deterred, especially at this time, by the ammunition to stay home," the California Democrat told reporters on a conference call. "We need at least $2 billion, $4 billion is probably what would really democratize our whole system."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/2-billion-needed-vote-mail-so-voters-dont-have-ammunition-stay-home-amid-coronavirus-nancy-1495613

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FAT CHANCE the GOP and Trump will even entertain this.

I am pretty convinced the Pandemic is Trumps' new opportunity to ensure he remains in office, and the same is true for the GOP, especially in the US Senate.

[jimfields33]

1. 2 billion?

It’s a piece of paper and a stamp. Ok three papers and two stamps. Realistically 180 million is more likely needed. 180 million voters X 10 dollars per voter.

What am I missing?

[leftieNanner]

3. Plus the savings of not

having to provide polling places or poll workers. Most states send out sample ballots anyway. Just make it a real ballot.

[jimfields33]

4. Good point!

[The_Counsel]

5. I'm Thinking Polling Locatons and Poll Workers Will Still Be Needed.

Someone will still have to count the votes--or are we still going to trust riggable machines to do the job? Even if so, someone will still have to load the ballots in to be counted.

But vote-by-mail is still a huge savings in the long run...

[GeorgiaPeanut]

8. You still have to provide polling places

because some people won't send in the mail-in ballots. You can't deprive them of their voting rights.

[leftieNanner]

11. We have zero polling places in Oregon

We have drop boxes (in my city, it's behind the library) and the completed ballots are picked up several times daily during the voting period.

[GeorgiaPeanut]

13. Good to know

Thanks for sharing!

[mpcamb]

7. "What am I missing?"

That your votre will be targeted by ZipCode, by computer findings of how you're registered, by secret lists.
My kids tell me there's no conspiracy too far fetched for me but this stuff is verified.
The republicans have outflanked us on this.
Congress needs to fight every single moment till election time to get votes to be counted.
It's where a woke-up DNC should be spending every dime, every second, every insight to make EVERY vote count.

We're wasting our time if they don't.

[GeorgiaPeanut]

10. They are saying $2 to $4 billion as a bargaining position

so repukes will give $500 million

[jimfields33]

15. Ah!!!!! Wow. You are brilliant. Never thought of that.

[leftieNanner]

2. He probably does think if he cancels the November election

that it means he gets to stay in office indefinitely. But his term ends on January 20, 2021 at noon. So does Pence's. So does Nancy Pelosi's and all House members. I'm sure, if it comes to that, he will convince William Barr to concoct some kind of BS legal reason why he should still be President. But that would be extra-Constitutional stuff. We shall see.

Fortunately, a few states are already 100% VBM (mine - Oregon - included) so there would not be any additional cost for us. I actually don't see why it would be so expensive to do all VBM in all states. Every state already sends out a sample ballot and voter pamphlet. So, just send out a REAL ballot. And there is cost savings involved in not having to provide polling places or poll workers. And it would involve all paper ballots - which the Republican SOSs and Governors won't like. Can't dink with those electronic machines.

[GeorgiaPeanut]

9. Nancy Pelosi's term doesn't end on Jan 21st.

Hers ends at the end of the year and until she is sworn backi in during the first week of January. Same with other house members and senators.

[leftieNanner]

12. Thanks for correcting me

I knew that and misspoke.

DU has such smart people!

[GeorgiaPeanut]

14. Well, you corrected me up thread

so now we're even!

[Evolve Dammit]

6. GOP (Moscow Mitch) will not allow this. It will not happen. Of course, it is what is needed.

[McCamy Taylor]

16. Making it safe to vote goes against everything the GOP stands for

However, they may be in for a nasty surprise. The very young and healthy who are at relatively low risk from COVID might turn out in greater numbers this time.