On November 3, Americans will elect a United States President. Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden, a Democrat, is running against Republican President Donald J. Trump, who hopes to win a second term. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has already claimed more than 156,500 lives in the U.S., many people are asking: “Will we be able to vote safely?”
In my home state of California, Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order making mail-in voting available to all of the state’s registered voters. Other states are planning similar measures.
I recently spoke with John Leopold, who represents the First District on the Board of Supervisors in Santa Cruz County. “We had a plan to go to all-mail balloting already,” Leopold said. Because of the pandemic, the plan will be sped up and implemented for the November 3 election.
In the past, only absentee voters would receive a ballot by mail. Now, on October 28, ballots will be sent to all registered voters in the county. After receiving and filling out the ballot, voters will have a choice of mailing it in or dropping it off at a polling place. Postage is free of charge for voters.