Mail-in ballots have always been a safe, secure way for Americans to vote. Nothing’s changed | Opinion

The American people have been voting by mail for more than 100 years. As far back as 1911, citizens in 45 of the 48 states could vote by mail. Even before then, American soldiers and sailors recorded their votes through the mail.

Exercising this fundamental right of citizenship is not extinguished by other extenuating circumstances, like war, disabilities or health concerns. If being at your neighborhood precinct on Election Day is not your choice, or is not likely to occur, voting by mail is a reasonable alternative.

The allegations of rampant fraud in voting by mail are completely baseless. Voting by mail has proven to be valid, safe and secure. When voters register to participate in our democracy, their signature is recorded and maintained on file. As ballots arrive through the U.S. Postal Service at the local office of the Elections Department, the signature on the ballot is matched against the voter’s registration signature. If there is a mismatch, voters are given an opportunity to appear in person and rectify the problem.

The system works.

The process sounds simple enough because it is that simple. Voting by mail has been the preferred means of voting for up to 45 percent of voters in recent elections. Five states — Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah — conduct “all mail” elections, meaning that mail-in-ballots are the only way to vote. These five states avoid the expense of leasing space for precincts; maintaining voting booths equipment and having to store them year-round; leasing trucks to move equipment; and setting up precincts and hiring temporary personnel to work on Election Day.

This year, a sixth state, California, has moved in the direction of all-mail voting.

It is possible to vote by mail in every state. In many of them, voters must provide a reason why they cannot vote in person, such as travel commitments or health problems. An excused voter then becomes eligible to cast an “absentee” ballot by mail. Many governors are using their executive powers to waive requirements of an excuse to allow voters to cast absentee mail-in ballots. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed some of those states to legislatively do away with the “excuse” requirement, along with other burdensome witness and notarization mandates, making it easier for citizens to cast a ballot.

Voting by mail has become a routine practice around the land, allowing Americans to exercise their right to vote in the comfort of their home. Without standing in line for several hours at a precinct, voters can study the choices, research the candidates, become familiar with referendum questions and sit at their kitchen table to fill out the ballot. After sealing and signing the envelope, voters drop the ballot in the mail. For added assurance, many election departments allow voters to track their ballot and see that it has been delivered and properly processed. In Miami-Dade County, vote-by-mail ballots come with a pre-paid return-postage envelope; a stamp is not required.

It’s important to know how be become a registered voter, if your voter registration is current and how to request a vote-by-mail ballot. There are many resources available, including Headcount.

So, why is there such resistance in the 2020 elections to this simple way of exercising our right to vote? President Trump has unilaterally decided that voting by mail is an invitation for election fraud. But there is no evidence to support this claim. The signature-verification process and other system security measures make fraud a very remote possibility. Neither is there any evidence of partisan advantage associated with allowing to vote by mail.

During this challenging time of a deadly pandemic, voting by mail lets voters participate in our democracy without the danger of getting sick. No one should have to risk his or her life to exercise their right to vote. Election departments throughout the country will be doing their best to make the 2020 election as accessible as possible.

Corporate America has an opportunity to step up and engage their employees and clients in our democracy. Good citizenship is good for business. Companies should provide on-site access to voter registration, ballot information and assistance in requesting a vote-by-mail ballot.

The 2020 election is about saving our democracy. It is essential that every eligible voter exercise their right to vote. Request a vote-by-mail ballot today and encourage friends and family to do the same. It is safe, it is secure, there are safeguards ensure that your vote is counted.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Maribel Balbin is a former trustee and board member of the League of Women Voters of the United States.