The fight over mail-in voting just got a little fiercer.
Former first lady Michelle Obama has announced that she will be pushing for mail-in voting options.
Through her organization When We All Vote, a group that focuses on voting rights, Obama will push for vote-by-mail options during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most immediately, this would impact the primaries that still have yet to occur.
But it could also set a precedent for mail-in voting come November for the general election.
Many people worry that mail-in voting would lead to voter fraud and the reduced ability to verify someone’s ability to vote. There would be no way to show voter ID in person.
More details on Michelle Obama’s sudden push into the 2020 campaign below:
The Obama's have largely stayed out of the 2020 election cycle so far.
Early during the Democratic primaries when Joe Biden was struggling to gain traction, Barack Obama was notably quiet.
A single endorsement during the primaries would have undoubtedly made the race more difficult for Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Now, Michelle Obama is attempting to use her leverage to push for mail-in voting.
The Guardian has more details on Obama's announcement:
Michelle Obama has announced a new attempt to make it easier to vote by mail, register online and expand early voting, as states race to figure out how they can hold elections amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The former first lady announced the push through When We All Vote, a voter participation group she started in 2018.
The group will push lawmakers to give voters more options, including extended deadlines, for requesting and returning mail-in ballots free of charge or with prepaid postage.
It will also push states to give voters more flexibility regarding where they can cast a ballot during early voting. Such flexibility could be critical since many jurisdictions have had to significantly scale back in-person voting options as poll workers have dropped out over Covid-19 concerns.
“We know that barriers to voting existed before this crisis, especially for young people and communities of color,” Obama said in a statement.
“Expanding access to vote-by-mail, online voter registration and early voting are critical steps for this moment – and they’re long overdue.
“There is nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country; making the democracy we all cherish more accessible; and protecting our neighbors, friends and loved ones as they participate in this cornerstone of American life.”
Axios reports that Michelle Obama's announcement could also be setting the stage for the Obamas to help Joe Biden's struggling campaign:
Michelle Obama will throw her support today behind expanding vote-by-mail options, advisers tell Axios, with her voting rights group embracing legislation before Congress amid coronavirus fears.
Why it matters: It's the first time the celebrity-backed organization has endorsed federal legislation — and it comes as Democrats await the Obamas' return to the political stage to help Joe Biden.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump has been showcasing leadership and wise decision making.
Biden, on the other hand, hasn't been able to get a message out to voters after his "shadow briefings" failed to gain traction.
President Trump's daily press briefings, have consistently had high viewership and have inspired confidence among those who watch.
There have been many questions surrounding Joe Biden's mental capacity to be president.
He has often gaffed on the campaign trail and had many unexeplainable mess-ups on TV interviews.
Many observers believe that a strategic vice president pick will be key to reviving his campaign.
The Washington Examiner suggests that Michelle Obama's odds to be Biden's VP pick continue to increase every day:
Former first lady Michelle Obama is back in play big time as a favorite to be Joe Biden’s running mate.
As Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday made a surprise endorsement of Biden in a warm and humorous video chat, the focus turned to Biden’s pick for vice president and gambling markets charted by Oddschecker.com saw a surge of support for Obama.
“Michelle Obama has been the most backed person in the market, accounting for almost 32% of all bets,” the firm said.
Spokesman Pete Watt told us, “Following Biden’s announcement that his VP would be female, plenty of names are being thrown into the ring, and the latest to attract a significant amount of attention is the former FLOTUS, Michelle Obama.”
He added, “Although her odds of +2500 [25-1] indicate that she remains an outsider with just an implied chance of 3.85%, you can expect to see that figure shoot up if she continues to receive bets at the same rate.”
The Obamas have stayed on the sidelines for the most part, but Michellen's push for mail-in voting could signal a re-entry into the political arena.
While nothing about a Biden-Obama ticket is known for certain, surely the operatives in Biden's campaign have thought about it.
In what is sure to be a competitive race, there is no room for error or the potential for voter fraud.
Though Michelle Obama may push for vote-by-mail voting, there will undoubtedly be leaders who prioritize the dignity and integrity of our elections.
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