From The Homefront, Vol. 23

August 19, 2020

 

Dear Leading Ladies,

Former President Barack Obama accused President Donald Trump of  trying to “kneecap” the US Postal Service to suppress votes at this November’s presidential election. Obama’s remarks came during a podcast interview on Friday, just days after Trump announced his opposition to increasing funding for the US Postal Service and mail-in voting, which the current president inaccurately claims enables voter fraud.

“What we’ve seen in a way that is unique to modern political history is a president who is explicitly trying to discourage people from voting, right?” Obama told his former campaign manager David Plouffe on his podcast “Campaign HQ.” “What we’ve never seen before is a president saying, ‘I’m going to try to actively kneecap the Postal Service to discourage voting, and I will be explicit about the reason I’m doing it.’ That’s sort of unheard of.”

The former president went on to say that he is “worried” about protecting the integrity of the election process amid a pandemic, including protecting the health of polling workers, noting that poll workers tend to be older people at higher risk during the pandemic. For that reason, Obama called on younger people to volunteer as poll workers, calling it “hugely important.” He encouraged young, healthy men and women to sign up for the required training soon so they are ready for the primaries and general elections in their communities.

We, too, are worried that mail-in votes may not be counted in a timely manner and that the United States Post Office may be hamstrung by Trump’s latest blatant threats to democracy. While we want to give those at high risk an alternative to voting in person, we also support Obama’s entreaty to have polling stations fully staffed by those at low risk, so that none need to be closed. If polling stations need to be closed, it will become more difficult for citizens to vote close to their homes, another obstacle for those with transportation challenges. We must confront all the insidious attempts at voter suppression!

In Massachusetts, if you wish to become a poll worker, go to https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/covid-19/poll-workers-needed.htm. There you will find a list of communities looking for poll workers, along with the contact information you may use to apply. You do not need to be a resident of a city or town in order to be a poll worker there.

Whether or not it is advisable for you to become a poll volunteer because of age, a medical condition, or a family situation, please pass this information and plea on to young friends, acquaintances, and relatives. Thank you.

Stay well,

Therese,
Judy
Mary
Kim
Leading Ladies Executive Team