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COVID-19

Civic Engagement and Voting

The coronavirus pandemic has helped exacerbate existing barriers to voting and election participation, making it more difficult for people across the country to exercise their right to vote. As the nation continues to grapple with COVID-19, local and state agencies face numerous challenges in their work to protect our voting systems and ensure that everyone can safely and securely vote throughout the remaining 2020 election cycle.

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Protecting voter health and participation

People of color, low-income people, people with lower education levels, and people with physical or mental health issues are disproportionately burdened by barriers to participation in the electoral process. These barriers include reduced early voting, limited polling locations, inadequate staffing and resources in polling locations and inadequate staff training, ballots that are complicated in design or are only in one language, and signature matching requirements. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, these barriers are exacerbated by health concerns as states and localities continue to work to contain the virus.

The Network is collaborating with public health and other partners to help raise awareness about protecting public health and voter participation in the 2020 elections.

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Western Region Office

Experts at the Western Region Office can assist with a broad range of questions related to COVID-19 legal preparedness and response, including:
»     Emergency declarations
»     Isolation and quarantine
»     Constitutionality of actions
»     Crisis standards of care


Northern Region Office

Experts at the Northern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
»     Impact on mental health
»     Telehealth, distance learning, and broadband access
»     Challenges/responses for rural communities
»     Environmental and climate issues


Mid-States Region Office

Experts at the Mid-States Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
»     Data privacy and freedom of information laws
»     Public health authority, emergency powers and decision-making
»     Americans with Disabilities Act
»     Emergency contracting and procurement
»     Sick leave and Family Medical Leave Act
»     Employer and employee rights


Southeastern Region Office

Experts at the Southeastern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
»     Medicaid and COVID-19 response
»     Drug prevention and local boards of health
»     Messaging


Eastern Region Office

Experts at the Eastern Region Office can assist with law and policy questions related to COVID-19 response, particularly in the areas of:
»     Eviction bans
»     Utility shutoff bans
»     Food access during school closures