There is much that your state must do to prepare for a safe general election for voters and poll workers during this pandemic. In this letter, you are asking your election officials to maintain an adequate number of in-person polling locations, help recruit younger poll workers, establish an early voting period at least two weeks before election day, and expand polling hours on election day. These changes will help increase access to the vote during this pandemic and protect the health of voters and poll workers.

Use the following prompt to create your letter. You can copy and paste it into the website link for your state’s election official. Access your official's website by clicking your state's link below. Thank you for helping us Protect The Vote!

Dear [insert recipient name and title],

I am [insert description], and I will be voting in [state name]. I am concerned about [insert concern about voting during the pandemic]. As such, I am very grateful that we already have an early voting period in our state that begins more than a week before the election day. This will help provide ample opportunity for all voters to cast a ballot safely and securely during this pandemic. 

However, there is more that must be done. Because of current recommendations regarding social distancing and wearing masks, it is evident that this election will look different from any other. We must act now to ensure that these additional precautions do not become barriers to voting in the upcoming general election. 

First, I am asking that you increase, or at least maintain, the number of in-person polling locations available. While most of the efforts to reduce the number of polling locations may be well-intentioned, evidence suggests that it would in fact have a disproportionate negative effect on African Americans, Native Americans, and voters with disabilities. Additionally, the more polling locations are available, the easier it will be to practice social distancing, and the safer voters and poll workers will be.

Of course, I understand that maintaining the number of in-person polling locations means that we need to recruit younger poll workers who are not at high risk for COVID-19. We must begin this work now. It is important to me that poll workers are safe because [insert poll worker safety belief]. 

A third important change is to extend polling hours on election day. This again serves a dual purpose of increasing access to the vote and protecting poll workers and voters, by preventing long lines and thus enabling social distancing. 

I believe that [insert election access belief]. Please do your part to protect our vote during these uniquely difficult circumstances.

Sincerely,

[name]