Conspiracy theory, after conspiracy theory. I would have never imagined that I would live through a dystopian novel in the year 2020, but here I am. Each day I take one step forward and see a bit of hope on the horizon, and then the news comes on, and an eclipse covers the sun.

I can’t believe I am writing this, but there’s absolutely nothing wrong with mail-in voting, and it does not increase voter fraud. In fact, amid a pandemic, it is perhaps the wisest thing we can do as U.S. citizens to exercise our right to vote and stay safe.

Before we nod our heads without letting the words resonate through our brain cells, let’s break it down.

Who benefits from voting by mail?

Republicans fear that the demographic group with low voter turnout will increase because of the accessibility of voting. This group is comprised of young people, low-income minorities, and those without access to transportation. These are democratic-leaning groups. However, the group that has used mail-in ballots the most is the elderly, which is a Republican-leaning group.

The graph below shows what happens when minorities vote. Pay attention to the years 2008 and 2012. Who won the presidency, then? By the same token, look at the year 2016. Who won the presidency, then?

You may be able to conclude why the current administration and republicans seem so reluctant about mail-in ballots now when typically, their party has benefited from it.

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Does fraud increase with mail-in ballots?

The rhetoric’s greatest hits have been anything that draws fear, confusion, and chaos, so it didn’t surprise me when they sprinkled ‘fraud’ like the MSG-filled sazon Goya for seasoning into their mail-in voting conspiracies.

To debunk this myth, the Brennan Center for Justice, a nonpartisan law and public policy institute, completed a report that studied this issue. They found that voter fraud rates are between “0.0003 percent and 0.0025 percent” and noted that “an American will be struck by lightning than that he will impersonate another voter at the polls.”

While I laugh at the improbable stuff that comes out of El Cuco’s mouth and his minions — as they try their hardest to cheat and win — when I see the same rhetoric in social media, hear it in the supermarket, while walking in the park, it scares me. Because it means that some didn’t use their deductive reasoning, bought into the fear, and believed it.

With the passage of time, he ups the ante by appointing a new Postmaster General. Who conveniently restructured the process in the USPS right before an election which will most likely use more voting by mail than usual. Coincidence? Highly unlikely.

El Cuco is that kid who wants to win at all costs, even if it means keeping bags of mail-in ballots losing their efficacy on the floor of a local USPS building as the clock ticks past November 3, 2020.

Yet, there’s more. As of August 14, 2020, Postal Times reported that 19 mail sorting machines were removed or scheduled to be removed soon. When they asked postal workers about this, none could give a reason behind the removal or schedule. These are the same machines that will help sort the surge of mail-in ballots come November. Coincidence? Nah.

The Guardian reported that a former top official of the USPS warned that recent changes such as refusing to pay overtime from the new postmaster general, might disenfranchise voters. These recent changes resulted in workers leaving bags of first-class mail in the processing plant instead of clearing it before ending their day, as it was the norm.

This swift change from the new boss with no postal experience will not only affect voters if left unchecked but has already affected veterans and regular citizens. They experienced delays in the delivery of their medication and regular mail. Mind you, this is happening during a pandemic when we are social-distancing and relying on alternate methods such as mail and the Internet to communicate and conduct business.

These actions are irresponsible and, at the worst, cruel. I mean, to what extent will El Cuco go to win?

I want to leave you with some facts on mail-in voting:

• Voters have a responsibility to ensure their name, address, and signature are accurate when registering to vote.
• Know your state voting policies. Some states have universal mail-in ballot procedures. This means that a ballot will be mailed to every registered voter in that state. Other states require the voter to request an absentee ballot. Some of these states may require registered voters to submit an excuse for their inability to vote.
• When We All Vote has voting resources and will help a voter request a ballot.
• You can register to vote through Voto Latino. This website also has great resources to educate voters on the process and candidates.
• Vote.org provides a breakdown by state on their absentee ballot rules along with deadlines.

While I was stationed overseas, I used FVAP.gov as a resource, registered, and voted using an absentee ballot. It was an easy and smooth process.

When I was little, I used to cover my feet because Abuela would tell me that El Cuco would pull my toes if I left them out. Now is worst. El Cuco will pull my vote and may keep my husband’s medicine as well. It’s a nightmare!

While I have hope that the least corrupt politicians will rectify this ship before we vote, I’m not taking any chances. My family and I will stand in line early with our foldable chairs, umbrella, sunblock, and cooler, and we will vote in person. It will be a family field trip. Care to join us?

Update

As of 18 August 2020, and because several democratic senators sued the Postmaster-General, he agreed to suspend all recent procedural changes till after the November 2020 presidential elections.

While we can breathe a sigh of relief, we cannot rest.

This is a lesson that activism and plain ol’ bucking against injustices and laws that don’t work for us and democracy should act like a verb, activating the subject.

Let’s take turns resting because self-care is crucial, but we need to keep the torch lit until justice is truly for all.