FSFP recently joined a coalition of non-profit organizations in a letter urging U.S. Senators to support the election provisions of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (“HEROES”) Act. The legislation, which was passed in the House, provides $3.6 billion in funding to help state and local governments adequately prepare for the November 2020 elections.

“Voters must not be forced to choose between their fundamental right to vote and their personal health and safety. COVID-19 will plague this nation for quite some time, and Congress must act now to ensure that the November general election does not become a large-scale replication of what we have witnessed during the primary process,” the letter states.

The letter comes as evidence of voter suppression was reported in multiple states during this year’s primary elections. The coalition letter addresses the need to prevent polling place closures, delayed delivery of absentee ballots, insufficient numbers of and malfunctioning machines, inadequate training of poll workers and other bulwarks against democracy.

“It is crucial that the federal government do everything in its power to ensure that the November election runs more smoothly than state primaries held during the COVID-19 crisis and that all citizens have a meaningful opportunity to cast their ballot,” the letter states.

Read the entire coalition letter here.