Stand Up America: $400 Million Not Nearly Enough To Protect Elections As Coronavirus Crisis Accelerates

After both chambers of Congress passed a stimulus bill that includes $400 million in funding for states to implement vote-by-mail and other voting reforms, Stand Up America Founder and President Sean Eldridge released the following statement:

"No voter should have to choose between protecting their health and exercising their right to vote. Period. While we are grateful to Democratic lawmakers and activists who forced Republicans to increase the amount of election assistance included in this bill, the $400 million allocated in it is simply not enough to meaningfully ensure the integrity of our elections.

"The next COVID-19 response package must include sufficient funding for states to implement vote-by-mail, guarantee no-excuse absentee voting, expand online and same-day registration, and increase opportunities to vote early.

"That's why Stand Up America will continue driving grassroots actions until lawmakers allocate adequate funding that will allow states to guarantee that every eligible voter can safely cast their ballot this fall."

Earlier this month, Stand Up America launched a national campaign demanding that lawmakers provide at least $2 billion in funding to ensure that Americans can safely vote. Community members made more than 70,000 constituent calls to Congress urging lawmakers to provide the funding to implement vote-by-mail and expand no-excuse absentee voting, online voter registration, and early voting.

The Brennan Center for Justice has estimated that $2 billion is required to ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot this fall.