Editorial Board
In 2020, Make Voting by Mail the Norm
Widespread absentee voting isn’t without risks. But it’s undoubtedly the safest option during a pandemic.
The right idea.
Photographer: Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images
Georgia’s primary election last week was hardly an exemplar of democratic efficiency. Equipment malfunctioned, backup ballots went missing, lines stretched interminably and many voters waited for hours to cast a ballot — sometimes in vain.
One reason for the chaos? Thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic, hundreds of poll workers didn’t turn up. That should serve as a warning for November’s presidential election: All states need to offer no-excuse mail voting this year, and Congress should help them do it.