Former President Barack Obama made a rare political statement on Twitter to chide Wisconsin for its handling of primary elections.
In a thread of tweets on Friday afternoon, Obama made a point to endorse voting by mail, asserting that forcing people to appear at polling stations during a pandemic, as was done in Wisconsin, can compromise an individual’s right to vote.
“No one should be forced to choose between their right to vote and their right to stay healthy like the debacle in Wisconsin this week,” Obama said in an afternoon tweet. “Everyone should have the right to vote safely, and we have the power to make that happen. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue.”
Everyone should have the right to vote safely, and we have the power to make that happen. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. https://t.co/gL38DpYEmu
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 10, 2020
Obama continued to say that without adopting vote by mail, democracy could be compromised.
“Let’s not use the tragedy of a pandemic to compromise our democracy. Check the facts of vote by mail.”
Let’s not use the tragedy of a pandemic to compromise our democracy. Check the facts of vote by mail. https://t.co/aTNxRV4Ws3
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 10, 2020
Wisconsin held its primary elections on Tuesday, but results are not expected until April 13 because of the coronavirus.
