ICYMI: On National Voter Registration Day, Every State, Every Vote Co-Chair Gov. Kate Brown Joins Center for American Progress Panel to Discuss Elections During COVID-19

Yesterday, Every State, Every Vote Co-Chair Oregon Gov. Kate Brown joined Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, Center for American Progress (CAP) Action Fund VP of Democracy and Government Reform Sam Berger, and CAP Action Fund CEO Neera Tanden in a discussion to raise awareness about steps governors, mayors, and voting rights advocates are taking to protect U.S. elections this November, as well as further actions that state and city leaders should take to ensure that every American citizen can vote safely.

Governors, mayors, and other elected officials are facing unprecedented challenges as they work to administer safe elections during a global pandemic this November. U.S. elections are already complicated operations, made more difficult this year by the need to ensure that voting is safe during the ongoing public health crisis.

During the panel, Gov. Brown discussed the challenges of holding an election during both a climate crisis and pandemic, Oregon’s success with vote-by-mail elections, the fight against election disinformation, and the work governors are doing to ensure every vote is counted and every voice is heard.

Every State, Every Vote Co-Chair Gov. Kate Brown: “Just as we stepped up to fill the void left by the Trump administration in this and every other crisis in the last three and a half years, my Democratic governors and I are working together to make sure even during the pandemic, Americans are able to safely exercise their fundamental rights.

”We are on a mission to make sure every voter gets heard and every voter gets counted. Together, we are pushing back against the postal service delays in the delivery of ballots, combatting the GOP’s efforts to scare Americans out of voting, and fighting with an army of campaign lawyers to ensure the integrity of election results. It is critically important we maintain the integrity of our election system, and I am horrified by this president’s either intentional or deliberate efforts to undermine security on the ballot.

“We have to ensure that the ballot count is both accurate and secure, and that every American is able to exercise their fundamental right to vote without risking their health or their safety.”

Watch a recording of the discussion here.