DALLAS (NewsNation) — There’s no doubt about it, the new warning from the United States Postal Service coupled with the challenges that were already present during a pandemic is forcing many Americans to think early about how they want to handle their vote. And if you live in a state like Texas — unless you have certain exceptions — voting in person may be your only option.
Despite it being a triple-degree scorcher in Dallas on Sunday, voters were happy to talk about an even hotter topic: mail-in voting.
Dallas resident Casey Sands believes everyone should have the ability to vote by mail if they so choose.
“I don’t think anyone should be forced to do anything during the pandemic that they’re not comfortable with,” she said.
There was a contentious campaign this year by Texas democrats and lawmakers across the country to offer mail-in voting to the masses. They argued that voters shouldn’t have to risk their lives to head to the polls.
Texas voter Sterling George said he agreed.
“One thousand percent,” he said. “There should be no limitations to how we can vote. It should be as easy as possible, because it’s our right.”
But in June, the Texas Supreme Court rejected those efforts. Only Texans who are 65 and older, absentees, or have certain health issues can vote by mail. Some people saying that decision should transcend to all other states. Like former Texas congressional candidate Josh Winegarner.
“I have a problem with mail-in ballots only because there’s no way to prove that it actually got delivered to the person who’s meant to be voting,” said Winegarner.
Dallas voter Jackson Oliver is also an opponent of voting by mail.
“How are they going to regulate it,” he asked. “I’m a procrastinator, so I’ll probably end up going day-of. Or I may go a little bit early, just kind of depends.”
The USPS recently sent out letters to 46 states, warning it can’t guarantee all ballots cast by mail for the November election will arrive in time to be counted.
Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Rhode Island were the only four states told by the Postal Service that voters have sufficient time between meeting state deadlines and the postal service’s ability to deliver the ballots.