Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer appeared on an episode of MSNBC’s “All In” on May 8th, where the Democratic senator stated that mail-in ballots “will be a very important part of the legislation that we’re going to put forward” with regard to the next bill for COVID-19.

While conversing with show host Chris Hayes, Schumer proclaimed that the GOP’s push to avoid mass mail-in ballots for the general election in November is a move aimed at stopping lower income individuals and minorities from participating in the election:

“I don’t underestimate the desire of Republicans to use the COVID crisis to prevent people from voting, particularly poor people, people of color. They’ve done that all along.”

Yet, Republicans that have opposed mail-in ballots being rolled out on a massive scale have been fairly consistent in their articulated concerns.

The often-cited reason for opposition has been worry over potential fraud.

While once again making a nod toward the pandemic, Schumer reiterated that Republicans are simply trying to exploit COVID-19 to thwart certain individuals from participating in the election:

“Everyone should be able to vote, that the COVID crisis should not stand in the way of what is the hallmark, the wellspring of America, which is free, fair, and open elections, and that will be a very important part of the legislation that we’re going to put forward, and we are going to fight like the devil for it.”

Schumer’s position is a rather presumptuous one.

It seems that his desire to enact mail-in voting on a grand-scale is because that come November, minorities and those lower on the economic spectrum will somehow perhaps be scared or incapable to vote in public.

Recently, in California, Governor Gavin Newsom pushed through an executive order that will allow for full-blown mail-in ballots for the November election.

President Trump’s campaign communications director, Tim Murtaugh, heavily criticized the move by the California Governor.

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Murtaugh delivered these words in a statement to CNN regarding Governor Newsom’s order:

“This is a thinly-veiled political tactic by Gov. Newsom to undermine election security. There’s a vast difference between people voting absentee by mail because they can’t be at the poll on Election Day versus mailing everyone a ballot – even those who didn’t request one – is a wide open opportunity for fraud.”

The Trump campaign official pointed to California’s shoddy history with regard to ensuring the integrity of mail-in ballots reaching their intended recipients:

“California has a bad record on ensuring that people on the voter rolls still live at the same address, still reside in California, or are even still alive. Everyone is concerned about the safety of voters, but jeopardizing election security is the wrong way to go about it.”

The state governor’s order will afford all registered voters within California not only a delivered mail-in ballot, but polling locations will be open throughout the state in concurrence as well.

Aside from this posing opportunities for a double-dipping style of voter fraud, therein lies the concerns over the practice of ballot harvesting.

California changed the rules surrounding ballot harvesting prior to the 2018 mid-terms, which allows non-familial members to collect mail-in ballots and submit them; thus, creating liabilities over the delivery of votes.

However, the GOP isn’t standing down in trying to put a stop to mail-in ballots getting dramatically scaled-up for the presidential election in November.

The Republican National Committee recently launched a website dubbed “Protect the Vote” on May 8th in direct response to the DNC’s efforts to push through massive mail-in ballots.

On the website, the RNC hosts a series of videos pertaining to the subject of ballot harvesting alongside a series of principles against the practice. Some of the most resonating pertain to voting security:

-“Sending activists to strangers’ homes to collect ballots not only jeopardizes people’s health in this time of social-distancing, but it also threatens the security of ballots.”

-“Safeguards like signature matching and photo identification must be preserved and enhanced. They secure the principle of one person, one vote, which in turn protects free and fair elections.”

The “Protect the Vote” site also cited a survey that showcased even voters are concerned about the dangers of fraud surrounding widespread mail-in ballots:

“Nearly two-thirds (62%) say there is fraud in U.S. elections, and that fraud would concern them under Democrats’ nationwide mail-in ballot system.

Americans overwhelmingly approve of the safeguards Democrats are suing to eliminate like signature matching (84%), voter identification (80%), and a ballot receipt deadline of election day (83%). Voters also oppose (67%) allowing campaign workers to collect mail-in ballots, a practice known as ballot harvesting.”

The battle between the two political parties over mail-in ballots is proving to be a tooth-and-nail fracas. Seemingly neither side is resting idly in their respective endeavors, and only time will tell which of the two parties will attain their goal in what is an ideal national election.

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