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Michelle Obama goes all in for full-scale absentee balloting nationwide and challenges Donald trump's claim it favors Democrats saying there is 'nothing partisan' about keeping voters safe

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is getting behind an initiative to boost mail-in voting and other registration initiatives amid the ongoi...

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is getting behind an initiative to boost mail-in voting and other registration initiatives amid the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus on voting – saying Americans shouldn't have to choose between casting a ballot and their own safety. 
In doing so, the first lady has jumped into an issue that has experienced a sudden burst of intensity after governors have sought new ways to allow citizens to exercise the franchise amid stay-home orders – and President Donald Trump has inveighed against voting by mail as 'corrupt.'
'There is nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country,' she said. 
Michelle Obama cut a video for the effort, which also enlists celebrity backers. She says she has been 'reaching out to some friends' to expand her voting squad. 
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is getting behind an initiative to boost mail-in voting and other registration initiatives amid the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus on voting. In this Sept. 23, 2018, file photo former first lady Michelle Obama speaks at a rally to encourage voter registration in Las Vegas
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is getting behind an initiative to boost mail-in voting and other registration initiatives amid the ongoing impacts of the coronavirus on voting. In this Sept. 23, 2018, file photo former first lady Michelle Obama speaks at a rally to encourage voter registration in Las Vegas
The initiative calls for making it easier for people to register to vote and cast ballots during the coronavirus pandemic.
Among the measures it favors are early voting for people to avoid long lines and mail-in ballots to avoid in-person voting entirely, and avoid the need for poll workers to interact with the public.
Her support for the initiative comes after thousands of Wisconsin voters lined up last week after Republicans blocked a delay and an extension of the mail deadline. Trump has said if Democratic efforts to expand early and mail voting are executed, 'you'd never have a Republican elected in this country again.' 
It comes as her husband, former President Barack Obama, has urged policymakers to follow the science in dealing with the coronavirus, and tweeted that the nation does not have a 'robust' national testing system.  
When We All Vote, a nonpartisan voting initiative, says Americans should have greater access to voting by mail, early in-person voting and online voter registration.

President Donald Trump has railed against mail voting, charging it leads to fraud and would hurt Republicans

Michael Singleton and his wife Gladys wait in a line, which continued a few blocks south of the polling location, to vote in the presidential primary election while wearing masks and practicing social distancing to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Riverside High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. April 7, 2020
Michael Singleton and his wife Gladys wait in a line, which continued a few blocks south of the polling location, to vote in the presidential primary election while wearing masks and practicing social distancing to help slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Riverside High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. April 7, 2020
The former first lady touts the nonpartisan voting effort in a video
The former first lady touts the nonpartisan voting effort in a video
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has called for a boost in mail-in voting amid the coronavirus outbreak
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden has called for a boost in mail-in voting amid the coronavirus outbreak
Democrats want mail-in voting in next stimulus bill
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The announcement follows last week's primary election in Wisconsin, where thousands of people waited hours in line - without protective gear and in defiance of orders to stay home - after the state Supreme Court overturned the governor's order to postpone the vote as more than a dozen other states have done because of the pandemic. Thousands of other Wisconsin voters, unwilling to risk their health, stayed home.
When We All Vote's announcement also comes amid vociferous opposition by President Donald Trump to mail-in voting.
Trump has tweeted that vote-by-mail systems are ''RIPE for FRAUD,' and shouldn't be allowed!' without providing evidence of widespread fraud. 
Voting by mail is an easy, convenient and secure way to cast your ballot 
The former first lady, a co-chair of the organization, said expanding access to vote-by-mail, online voter registration and early voting are long overdue 'critical steps for this moment.'
'Americans should never have to choose between making their voices heard and keeping themselves and their families safe,' she said in a statement. 'There is nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country: making the democracy we all cherish more accessible, and protecting our neighbors, friends and loved ones as they participate in this cornerstone of American life.'
A voter advocacy group led by Michelle Obama announced support Monday, April 13, 2020, for making it easier for people to register to vote and cast ballots during the coronavirus pandemic
A voter advocacy group led by Michelle Obama announced support Monday, April 13, 2020, for making it easier for people to register to vote and cast ballots during the coronavirus pandemic
Mrs. Obama´s role with the group is her most high-profile effort since she left the White House in early 2017.
Trump has claimed without evidence that expanding mail-in voting will increase voter fraud. Despite his assertions, several GOP state officials are moving forward with plans for mail-in voting in their states.
There is no evidence of widespread mail voting fraud. The most prominent recent fraud case occurred in North Carolina´s 9th Congressional District in 2018, when a consultant hired by the GOP candidate was linked to an effort to tamper with absentee ballots.
When We All Vote says expanded access to vote-by-mail could be the only safe and secure option for some Americans, especially those living under state orders to stay at home during the pandemic. It wants states to offer more options to request, receive and return mail-in ballots using free or prepaid postage.
Early in-person voting will allow ballots to be cast without jeopardizing social distancing guidelines, the group said. It presents online voting as a safe and secure option that would continue a trend of conducting government business online, saving public money and reducing errors in the voter rolls.
Election Day is Nov. 3
Currently, five states - Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and Utah - conduct all elections entirely by mail, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. At least 21 other states have laws that allow certain smaller elections, such as school board contests, to be conducted by mail.
Forty states, including the five with all-mail elections, and the District of Columbia offer in-person early voting, according to the state legislatures' association. Delaware has enacted early voting, but it will not be in place until 2022. Nine states do not offer in-person voting before Election Day.
Mrs. Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 with co-chairs actor Tom Hanks, 'Hamilton' creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, singer-songwriter Janelle Monae, NBA player Chris Paul and husband-and-wife country singers Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

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