Select Subcommittee Investigation Reveals Serious Problems in States’ Election Preparedness

Washington, D.C. (September 9, 2020) —Today, the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis released a staff memo showing Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Wisconsin face serious challenges in the upcoming general election. The memo follows letters from Select Subcommittee Chairman James E. Clyburn and Committee on House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren seeking information on the states' plans to eliminate barriers faced by voters during this year's primaries and to follow election guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to ensure a free, fair, and safe general election.

"The Select Subcommittee investigation raises concerns about election preparedness in Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Wisconsin, including whether these states are prepared to provide adequate voting by mail, extended early voting, and safe polling places as recommended by the CDC," the memo states. "Texas's refusal to expand absentee voting and the urgent warnings from counties about shortages of poll workers and polling locations suggest the state's voters could face significant delays and long lines on Election Day. Other states also face shortages of poll workers that, if not addressed, will mean voters could be waiting in hours-long lines to cast their ballot."

"With just two months left before the general election, states cannot simply defer to local election officials to address these problems. Instead, states should move swiftly and proactively to implement CDC recommendations and ensure a free, fair, and safe election."

The Select Subcommittee's investigation identified the following issues:

• Texas Has Refused to Expand Mail-In Voting and May Face a Poll Worker Shortage. Texas is one of just six states refusing to expand mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic, forcing most voters to vote in person. Documents obtained by the Select Subcommittee show Texas counties may not have enough poll workers or polling locations for the general election. In 127 out of 254 counties, some people who previously served as election workers have indicated they will not work in November. County officials expressed concern about "[t]he spread of the virus" and "[f]inding enough poll workers and polling locations," and warned, "Voters could be waiting in lines for hours."

• Georgia Reversed Its Policy of Sending Absentee Ballot Applications to All Voters, Leading to Confusion and Possible Disenfranchisement. Before this year's primary, Georgia sent absentee ballot applications to all voters. Georgia reversed this policy for the general election even though the state's coronavirus infection rates have increased threefold since the primary in June. Georgia also faces a poll worker shortage: the state informed the Select Subcommittee that it needs 20,000 poll workers, but a state initiative has identified just 5,000 possible candidates so far.

• Florida Has Refused to Expand Early Voting or Help Counties Recruit Poll Workers. Despite long lines and hundreds of poll closures in this year's primaries, Florida's Governor has refused to expand early voting and is deferring to counties to address poll worker shortages and long wait times. Information obtained by the Select Subcommittee shows the state government has not developed statewide projections of voter turnout, absentee ballots, or poll workers needed.

• Wisconsin Faces a Potential Poll Worker Shortage. Wisconsin has estimated it needs 30,000 poll workers for the general election. The state has engaged in recruitment efforts but lacks statewide recruiting data, so it is unclear whether Wisconsin will have a sufficient number of poll workers in the general election.

Click here to read today's memo.

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