PLI Bulletin

Voter Protection, Mail-In Ballots, Anti-Vaxxers and More

Posted on August 26, 2020

Voter Protection Act: Donald Trump has threatened to send law enforcement agents to the polls in November. The Voter Protection Act bans voter intimidation and voter suppression, establishes a Voter’s Bill of Rights, and requires the creation of a Manual of Election Procedures.

Don’t discourage mail-in ballots! Postmaster General DeJoy and his boss are doing whatever they can to damage the Post Office. While progressive leaders should use legislation and litigation to fight back, it is essential that we do not frame the debate in a way that discourages Americans who want to vote by mail from doing so. For the truth about mail-in voting in 2020, see the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.

Dr. Anthony Fauci about COVID-19: In this podcast, hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, Dr. Fauci explains a wide variety of the latest issues surrounding COVID-19.

How prisons and jails are responding to COVID-19: This regularly-updated report from the Prison Policy Initiative describes what prisons and jails are doing in response to the pandemic, including: releasing prisoners early, limiting jail admissions, reducing face-to-face contact for people on parole and probation, reducing the cost of phone and video calls, eliminating medical co-pays, and more.

Why is the “anti-vaxxer” movement growing during a pandemic? Donald Trump’s politicization of vaccine trials has given the “anti-vaxxers” considerable ammunition, according to a report in Financial Times. Right now, polling suggests that only 40 percent of Americans plan to get immunized, about 25 will not, and the remaining 35 are not sure. It’s a potential public health disaster.

How to talk about issues of voting and elections: We’re all spending a lot of time talking about the mechanics of the 2020 election, but are you using the best messaging? Read this chapter from PLI’s messaging guide.