State, local Republicans are advocating for post-vote, even if Trump fights against it

Republican officials have encouraged voting by post in their states even if President TrumpDonald John TrumpThe Memo: Democrats pitch Biden as the back-to-normal candidate Obama congratulates Biden with formal nomination Jill Biden gives personal portrait of man Joe MORE explained the practice, Politico reported.

The Iowa GOP sent unsolicited absentee ballots to voters, while the Pennsylvania Republican Party website encourages members to “Vote securely: by mail. From home,” according to the publication. The Ohio Republican Party distributes emails by reading ” Join President Trump and vote by Absentee Ballot. “While Trump has argued that his issue is with universal suffrage for abstention rather than voting in absentia, several states, including his primary residence in Florida, make no distinction between the two.

“The president is making a false distinction and no, there are no more safeguards with absent votes,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, the deputy director of suffrage, elections and democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice, Politico. “The protections available and those used to protect the integrity of elections are the same in both systems.”

Other states, particularly in the Western U.S., have used post-voting for decades, including heavy Republican Utah.

“Voice by post really works here in Utah,” election director Justin Lee told Politico. “We feel safe and secure. We do not feel that there are real instances of widespread fraud or dismissal of voters. ”

Democrats have raised the alarm that the president is deliberately manipulating the Postal Service to dissuade voters by mail-in, especially to GOP donor Louis DeJoyLouis DeJoyClyburn bashes Post cuts: It’s a service, not a case Civic groups go ahead with a lawsuit over post service slowdown Schumer demands details about postmaster general selection process MORE was appointed postmaster general. Earlier this month, Trump told Fox Business that he would not agree to new funding for post offices requested by Congress Democrats, suggesting that universal post-in-vote would be impossible without it. Over the past few days, he has apparently complied, saying he would agree to at least $ 10 billion of the requested funds.

Thousands of states, including those with Republican leadership, have simplified post-voting rights because of the coronavirus pandemic, and research shows that the option does not benefit in part. Arizona Gov. Doug DuceyDoug DuceyOvernight Health Care: Fauci says he does not see US mandate COVID-19 vaccine | WHO warns against ‘nationalism’ in combating coronavirus Trump seeks impetus in Arizona by focusing on immigration Latino PAC debuts ad with Democratic convention standout Kristin Urquiza MORE (R) denied during a visit to the White House in August that voting would increase through mail in voter fraud in the state.

“In Arizona, we’re going to do well,” Ducey said. ‘It will be free and fair. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to cheat. And it will be easy to vote. ”