INDIANAPOLIS — Rhea Cain, president of the League of Women Voters of Indianapolis, says COVID-19 has been a game-changer for elections in the United States.
One of the biggest changes has been an increased interest in voting-by-mail to avoid the chance of catching coronavirus.
The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is October 22. However, Cain says doing things as early as possible is better.
"We as an organization are strongly encouraging folks to actually have their ballot in the mail no later than October 19th,” Cain said. “We feel that is giving clerks all throughout the state of Indiana enough time to get their ducks in a row.”
Cain also says it’ll give them enough time to find poll workers to process the expected increase in ballots.
Voting-by-mail has turned into a political issue. President Donald Trump has claimed numerous times it will lead to fraud without providing evidence to prove his point.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has temporarily paused changes to the USPS until after the election because politicians and USPS employees accused the Trump appointee of implementing these changes to interfere with mail-in voting.
Cain says all of that has minimal impact on the work the League of Women Voters is doing.
“It's not going to change too much of our messaging,” Cain said.
If you’re worried about putting your ballot in the mail, but want to avoid long lines on November Third, Cain offers this alternative.
“If you are able to vote early in person, 28 days before the election, the clerk's office will be open and allow for early voting,” Cain said.
However you choose to vote, Cain stresses it’s important to plan ahead. If you do have trouble, she urges you to reach out to your lawmakers (local, state, and federal) to express your frustrations.
"It is a Constitutional Right," Cain said. "Voting is not a privilege. It's a right. Governments need to do everything in their power to make the voting booth as accessible as it can be to its citizens."
