Michelle Obama is calling on voters to “spread the word” about mail-in voting ahead of what is likely to be a contentious election.
In a video address released on Tuesday by Obama’s “When We All Vote” organization, the former first lady said mail-in voting is “fair and safe” before asking voters to cast their ballots early ahead of Nov. 3 as the coronavirus pandemic could pose health risks for in-person voters.
“Fair and safe voting is gonna be more important than ever this year. And that’s why When We All Vote is fighting to expand vote-by-mail, in-person early voting, and online voter registration,” Obama said.
Obama’s pitch runs in direct opposition to the concerns raised by President Trump who has questioned the validity of widespread mail-in voting and has claimed on many occasions since the coronavirus pandemic began that the election could be rigged.
Obama rejected these claims in her video, suggesting that giving voters the “tools” they need to participate in one of the most important elections in U.S. history was paramount to the democratic process.
“Make sure your friends, families, and communities are registered, know their rights, and are fully prepared to vote by mail this year or vote early in-person,” Obama said, adding, “Let’s get more folks across the country trained with the tools, the resources, and the information they’ll need to vote, because this election couldn’t be more important.”
