Expanded Balloting Suit Supported by NAACP

The local chapter of the NAACP supports a federal lawsuit that would allow expanded balloting in the remaining 2020 Tennessee elections.

Executive Board Member Anne Austin said the action to expand absentee balloting benefits all voters.

“The NAACP strongly supports access to the ballot to everyone,” Austin said. “It’s an American right, and it’s democracy. Without everyone having a full and equal access to the ballot, we don’t have a democracy. That right is at an even greater risk because of the COVID-19 virus.”

Under current Tennessee law, voters can elect to vote by mail if they meet certain, limited criteria, including all registered voters over the age of 60. The federal lawsuit seeks to expand absentee balloting for the August and November elections to voters that may feel uncomfortable in crowded voting lines.

“We have the example that just happened, according to news reports, there may have been as many as 50 people that stood in line or worked polls in Wisconsin with their recent election, who then contracted the virus. That puts people at risk, makes them afraid, and, perhaps, makes them decide not to exercise their right to vote.”

The lawsuit reads, in part, “For most voters, absentee voting—if available as an option—is a safe, socially-distanced method of exercising their fundamental right. Indeed, the CDC’s first recommendation for election officials in the midst of this pandemic is to ‘encourage mail-in methods of voting.'”

Austin said the goal of the lawsuit would allow expanded balloting during the two 2020 elections in Tennessee. She said she would like to see a permanent expansion, but it wasn’t likely with the current legislature.

“I hope Tennessee will take an emergency measure so that we don’t risk increasing the number of people who potentially die from COVID-19,” Austin said. “However, I don’t think they’re going to do it long term. Would it be a good idea? Yes. Would it help not just the African-Americans but all Americans in making sure everybody can participate in our democracy? Yes.”

In addition to fears over the coronavirus, Austin said Tennessee already has laws that limit voter participation.

“Any time you voter ID laws, that restrict what IDs are allowed, you have people who don’t have drivers license, for example,” Austin said. “If they are a registered to carry a gun, they can use that license, but by the same token, if they are a student and have a student ID, that is prepared on campus, they can’t use that as identification. All of that prevents people from voting.”

According to Penn State University, 183 million voters cast a ballot in the 2016 Presidential Election. That number only represents 58.1 percent of voting-eligible citizen in the the United States. Austin said she hopes to see more participation, especially from younger voters.

“Young people must get out and must go vote,” Austin said. “They must educate themselves, they must do research, learn what’s going on, and what the candidates positions are and get out there. It’s a civic right. It’s a civic duty. Quit relying on the old people to decide your future. Take it in your own hands.”

The federal lawsuit for expanded balloting was filed in the Middle District of Tennessee. Defendants include Secretary of State Tre Hargett and state Elections Coordinator Mark Goins.

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