Everything is at stake in November. We must get it right.
Today, I represented Empire State Indivisible at a press conference held by New York State Senator Hoylman and Assembly Member Gottfried about secure ballot drop boxes for the upcoming election. Following is what I said.
My name is Danielle Brecker, I am a co-lead organizer of Empire State Indivisible.
The indivisible movement is predicated on holding those we elect to serve and the institutions of our democracy to account. This starts with voting.
The upcoming election is the most urgent and consequential of our lifetime. If we get it wrong we risk everything and we likely will not have the chance to make it right and do the work to progress to a more perfect union.
Just over a week ago, on “save the post office Saturday” I stood on these same steps with many New Yorkers disgusted that an American president would sabotage the U.S. postal service in order to win reelection. That an American president would obstruct vote by mail during a global pandemic that has taken so many lives for his personal gain. That an American president would suppress our constitutional right to vote so he can stay in power.
The only choice we have is to do everything we can, big and small, to ensure the fairness of this election. We must make sure that we register new voters, that all voters participate in a safe way, and that no vote goes uncounted.
Empire State Indivisible supports any measure that ensures every vote counts in the upcoming and all future elections. We urge the New York State legislature to return to session and pass Senator Hoylman and Assembly Member Gottfried’s bill to set up ballot boxes so voters have one more convenient way to safely drop off their completed absentee ballot instead of relying on the mail.
Furthermore we are asking the legislature to use their power to pass additional measures to help register voters; make voting easy, accessible, and safe for all; and to fully fund and support Boards of Elections across New York State.
Everything is at stake in November. We must get it right.
