Other Views: Mail-in balloting is broadly popular in America

Andrew B. Hall and Lawrence M. Wein, USA TODAY:

“Recent research in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ... showed vote by mail has not historically favored one party or the other . ... Democratic candidates performed no better in counties that switched to allmail elections in these states. Democratic voters did not turn out more than Republican voters in these counties, either. Indeed, many voters in both parties chose to vote by mail when it became available, suggesting that the program is broadly popular. And safeguards on how ballots are mailed out and how they are verified before they are counted ensure that widespread voter fraud is highly unlikely.”

EJ Montini, Arizona Republic:

“Every Republican who has been elected in Arizona for as long as most of us can remember has been elected, largely, by way of a mail-in vote. It’s how 8 in 10 of us cast ballots . ... When Donald Trump shrieks on Twitter about mail-in voting corrupting the election process, he’s lying. It’s that simple . ... If you are an elected official in Arizona — if you are Gov. Doug Ducey or Attorney General Mark Brnovich, or members of

Congress like Andy Biggs and Debbie Lesko, or any of the others — you should either condemn Trump’s lies about mail-in voting or resign. Put up or shut up. Either the people we elect believe in the democratic process or they don’t. And if they don’t have the spine to call out a dishonest attack on that process they should step down. It’s Donald Trump or the Constitution. Pick one.”

Douglas Brinkley, CNN:

“The first wartime election occurred (in) 1812 . ... With the nation divided and under attack, President James Madison might easily have considered postponing that year’s election. Instead, he won a second term, kept the union together and negotiated an end to hostilities . ... By 1864, the Union and Confederacy had waged some of the bloodiest battles in history, with hundreds of thousands killed. Yet plans for the election went forward . ... Then came the 1918 (flu pandemic), which ... was one of the most disruptive disasters in modern history, forcing the closure of churches, schools, amusements and even federal courts — but not voting booths . ... Our country has seen worse and always had the fortitude and democratic idealism to carry on.”