Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement in response to recent comments by President Trump about voting by mail during the COVID-19 pandemic:

“The president should be embarrassed by his recent comments about voting by mail. Forcing people to go to a polling location during a public health crisis is shameful. People should never have to choose between their health and exercising their right to vote during an election, like voters in Wisconsin were forced to do this week.

“I fundamentally believe that lawmakers should make it easier to vote and the United States should move to a fully vote by mail system. Making our democracy healthier should be a bipartisan issue, especially during COVID-19.

“Washington state moved to a fully vote by mail system without any significant issues or reports of voter fraud. In fact, this change made it easier for people to vote and increased voter participation in the state.

“Congress approved $400 million dollars in the CARES Act to help states prepare for an anticipated surge in vote by mail and absentee ballot requests, but states will need more resources to ensure everyone can vote this year. I urge Congress to require states allow anyone who wants to vote by mail during COVID-19 to do so and provide states the funds they’ll need to accomplish this in the next response package.”

DelBene helped introduce the Resilient Elections During Quarantines and Natural Disasters Act along with Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-3) and Jamie Raskin (MD-8). The companion bill in the U.S. Senate is led by Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon.