In this pandemic election, with winter projected to
bring about a more hostile wave, health experts advise voting by mail where
possible. In this matter, USA is a surprisingly backward country, still using
paper ballots. Only 5 out of the 50 states have universal “voting by mail”
legislation and infrastructure. At least 16 states need a valid documentary
reason such as a medical certificate to allow postal voting.
Postal service is a critical component. States will first
send to voters applications for mail ballots by mail. Registered
voters fill and mail them back. On scrutiny of the application, the actual ballots are sent to the voter, by mail.
The voter ticks, signs and mails it back just before Election Day. (It can also
be dropped off in person at the voting center). Votes are discarded if received
after the Election Day.
Once the vote count begins, signature verification is a lengthy process. In 44 states,
signatures must match with one on the file, and some states require witnesses
or notaries. In 2016 elections, 92000 ballots were rejected due to signature
mismatch. The postmark and its date must be accurate. Missing or late postmarks
invalidate the vote, for no fault of the voter.
USA has a population of 330 million, including 250
million voting-age. Voting lethargy means a maximum of 160 million will
register to vote. About 140 million will actually vote. In 2016, 33 million
votes were cast via mail. Because of the coronavirus risks, this year it is
expected to be much higher. If allowed.
*****
First thing Trump succeeded was to appoint Louis DeJoy,
an outsider, as the new Postmaster General in June 2020. A Trump loyalist, he has
donated more than $2 billion to the Republican Party since 2017. In the name of cost cutting, Mr DeJoy has
started a massive go-slow operation. Despite 40,000 postal workers affected by
quarantine, he has drastically reduced overtime, banned extra trips needed for on-time
mail delivery. Reportedly, the postal service is asked to remove and destroy
969 out of its 4926 mail sorting machines. They sort ballots by barcodes. Mail
delivery has been delayed by a week in some places.
USPS has sent CYA letters to all states warning the
ballots may not reach their destinations because deadlines are too tight for
its delivery standards.
*****
Secondly, Trump has condemned mail-in voting as an
opportunity for fraud and election interference. On 12 August, in front of TV
cameras, he said he refused to sign off on $25 billion in emergency funding for
the postal service or $3.5 billion for election security. He said people should
vote in person. On the beautiful election
day of 3 November itself, there will be an announcement of his re-election. But
with voting by mail, it will take months
or years to figure out.
*****
Does Trump think voting by mail will help the Democrats?
Not necessarily. He is simply preparing a back-up option for not leaving the
office. If he loses, as he is expected to, he will rush to the Supreme Court.
He has already managed to install two young conservative justices, achieving
5-4 majority on the Supreme Court. Bush-Gore (2000) post-election battle had
gone on for a month. The Supreme Court by 5-4 had declared Bush a winner based
on 537 extra votes in Florida, governed then by Jeb Bush. Neither Bush nor Gore
was a ruling president, Trump is. He is far more powerful.
Expect a legal battle in Trump-Biden to go on for
months after the Election Day.
Ravi
I can't wait!
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