Voter Registration at Risk Due to Coronavirus Pandemic

(Photo : Reuters)

The Presidential election is the best time to bring new people into the political process; however, the coronavirus prevents new voter registration to be fulfilled.

The new voters' registration is deemed a moment where individuals act towards their right and responsibility to vote. However, the public health crisis that the United States of America is facing has halted the activity. 

It happens all throughout the year but the months prior to the elections is crucial as politics spike and the funding for registrations flow in. 

Voters' registration in the past

According to the Election Assistance Commission, the 2016 run up presidential elections, Americans filed more than 77.5 million voter applications and the total number of voters summed up to 200 million. 

Though the numbers of registered voters are high, there are still 10 million eligible Americans who are unable to register. Plus, millions of Americans will become eligible by turning 18 this year. The Z generation, born from 1997 to 2012, is expected to outshine the silent generation born from 1928 to 1945 and share a high percentage of the electorate. 

Also, millions of Americans had to re-register as they moved across states. Others have been evicted from the rolls of not voting in the recent elections, including what is known as key battleground states, Wisconsin and Georgia. 

But due to the pandemic, traditional ways of signing up voters are no longer available, increasing concern of eligible voters not being able to participate in this year's elections. 

Check these out:

-People of Color Take a Major Hit as the Economy Struggles Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

-AMLO Strictly Orders People to Practice Preventive Measures To Avoid COVID-19

-Mexican Governor Says Poor People Are Not Susceptible To COVID-19

Online registration in effect

Knowing that the registration is going to be an issue for most people, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Ron Wyden are pushing for emergency voting reforms as a response to the COVID-19 crisis. 

On normal days, voter registration activists typically hold events but due to the pandemic, there is none. 

Department of motor vehicles is the source of 45% of all voters' applications, but they too are not visible. Other places, such as schools, libraries and government offices, where registrations are held are also not available. 

Another huge source of application is the polling places, which allows same day registration. These polling places will be closed in upcoming primaries and there is still no clear information as to how many of the places will be open in November since the states will be trying the mail-in balloting. 

Groups that allow canvassers to go to the fields to sign up voters have closed their person-to-person operation and switched to digital organizing. 

Digital efforts may fill the large gap but these are still not available for everyone. 

Andrea Hailey, CEO of the Vote.org, said that most young Americans do not own printers, and internet and the cost of postage may become an issue for low-income individuals, especially people of color. 

According to the Elections Assistance Commission, forty states currently offer online voter registration while the rest offer blank forms online which can be printed and mailed in. However, this is still a challenge not only for low-income individuals but also for the disabled and non-English speakers who rely on trained canvassers.