In 2020 About 70% of Americans Voted Early or by Mail, But Republicans Want to Restrict Both

A greater percentage of eligible voters cast ballots in November than in any election since 1900 according to experts, and the Census Bureau reported this week that about 70% of us did it early or by mail.

ABC News: "More than two-thirds of all U.S. citizens of the voting age population participated in the 2020 presidential election, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report, and 69% of those cast ballots by mail or early in-person voting — methods that Republicans in some states are curtailing."

Because of the pandemic, states offered expanded early and mail voting options and their efforts paid off. Americans seem to like the safety and convenience of both options.

1. 17 million more voters cast ballots than in 2016, and

2. Early and mail voting increased from about 40% in 2016 to 69% in 2020

Most political scientists would say that this is a rather amazing success story, one that bodes well for the future of American democracy. But, to many Republicans it seems like a sure sign of the Apocalypse; "Lord save us, the rabble is voting!" Thus, in "Red" states across the nation, Republican legislators are crafting laws to make voting harder based [they claim] on the often and thoroughly debunked notion that voter fraud is rampant in America.

Let's be clear; none of their efforts is meant to prevent voter fraud. It's about making it more difficult for working class voters in large cities to vote. That is where voters have had to wait for hours in long lines to cast their ballot in past elections. Republicans want voting in urban areas to be as miserable as possible, so they are trying to limit early and mail voting.

It really is as simple as that.

#news #politics

By: Don Lam & Curated Content