1

MEMORANDUM

September 9, 2020

To: Members of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis

Fr: Majority Staff

Re: Examination of States’ Preparedness for the November Election

The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis is examining states’ efforts to ensure

a free, fair, and safe general election during the coronavirus pandemic. On August 14, 2020, the 

Select Subcommittee and the Committee on House Administration sent letters to the chief 

election administration officials of four states—Texas, Georgia, Florida and Wisconsin—where 

voters faced serious impediments to casting their ballots during the 2020 primary elections. The 

letters sought information on the states’ efforts to prevent similar problems in the general 

election.

1

 To that end, the letters also asked about states’ plans to follow guidance from the 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending that states provide 

alternatives to in-person voting such as voting by mail, extended early voting, and safe polling 

places with distancing and sanitization precautions.2

The Select Subcommittee’s investigation revealed that these states face the risk of serious 

problems in the general election, including inadequate polling places and shortages of poll 

workers. In some of these states, these risks are exacerbated by state policies restricting mail-in 

voting and early voting. States should take immediate action to fix these problems—including 

by supporting local election officials and implementing best practices from other states—in order 

to ensure all voters can cast their ballots without delays or risks to their health. 

1 Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Press Release: Clyburn, Lofgren Launch Investigation 

Into States’ Preparations To Hold Free, Fair, And Safe Elections (Aug. 14, 2020) (online at 

https://coronavirus.house.gov/news/press-releases/clyburn-lofgren-launch-investigation-states-preparations-holdfree-fair-and-safe).

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters

(June 22, 2020) (online at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/election-polling-locations.html).
2

The Select Subcommittee’s investigation identified the following issues:

• Texas Has Refused to Expand Mail-In Voting and May Face a Poll Worker

Shortage. Texas is one of just six states refusing to expand mail-in voting during

the coronavirus pandemic, forcing most voters to vote in person. Documents

obtained by the Select Subcommittee show Texas counties may not have enough 

poll workers or polling locations for the general election. In 127 out of 254 

counties, some people who previously served as election workers have indicated 

they will not work in November. County officials expressed concern about “[t]he 

spread of the virus” and “[f]inding enough poll workers and polling locations,”

and warned, “Voters could be waiting in lines for hours.” 

• Georgia Reversed Its Policy of Sending Absentee Ballot Applications to All 

Voters, Leading to Confusion and Possible Disenfranchisement. Before this 

year’s primary, Georgia sent absentee ballot applications to all voters. Georgia 

reversed this policy for the general election even though the state’s coronavirus 

infection rates have increased threefold since the primary in June. Georgia also 

faces a poll worker shortage: the state informed the Select Subcommittee that it 

needs 20,000 poll workers, but a state initiative has identified just 5,000 possible 

candidates so far.

• Florida Has Refused to Expand Early Voting or Help Counties Recruit Poll 

Workers. Despite long lines and hundreds of poll closures in this year’s 

primaries, Florida’s Governor has refused to expand early voting and is deferring 

to counties to address poll worker shortages and long wait times. Information 

obtained by the Select Subcommittee shows the state government has not 

developed statewide projections of voter turnout, absentee ballots, or poll workers 

needed. 

• Wisconsin Faces a Potential Poll Worker Shortage. Wisconsin has estimated it 

needs 30,000 poll workers for the general election. The state has engaged in 

recruitment efforts but lacks statewide recruiting data, so it is unclear whether 

Wisconsin will have a sufficient number of poll workers in the general election.

FINDINGS

A. Texas Refused to Expand Mail-In Voting and May Face Poll Worker 

Shortage. 

Texas is one of just six states that will require voters to provide a reason other than the 

coronavirus pandemic in order to vote absentee in the general election.

3

 Instead of adjusting its 

3 How to Vote by Mail in the General Election, NPR (Aug. 24, 2020) (online at 

www.marketplace.org/2020/08/24/how-to-vote-by-mail-in-the-general-election/).
3

rules in light of the pandemic, the state has sought court rulings to prevent Texans from voting 

absentee.4 The Texas Attorney General also sued a Texas county that planned to mail out 

absentee ballot applications.

5

 In effect, the state is forcing most voters to show up in person if 

they want to exercise their right to vote, which could lead to longer lines and more crowded 

polling sites on Election Day. 

Documents obtained by the Select Subcommittee show that county election officials

across Texas have warned the state they may not be prepared to handle anticipated turnout at 

polling locations. In particular, staffing shortages could severely hamper social distancing at 

polling places or shut them down entirely. A recent survey from the Texas Secretary of State 

asked counties, “Have you had any election judges and clerks that normally work elections 

indicate that they will not be working for future elections?” 127 of Texas’s 254 county election 

officials answered, “yes.” In response to the question, “What is your primary concern for 2020 

elections?,” more than 1 in 5 Texas counties cited poll staffing.

6

 For example, counties 

identified the following concerns:

• “The spread of the virus and making sure that people will want to work on that 

day.”7

• “Finding enough poll workers to man all 26 election precincts.”8

• “Our biggest concern has always been finding election workers. Also, not sure 

where we’ll be with the pandemic issue.”9

• “HAVING ENOUGH WORKERS AND TRAINING THEM!”10 

These survey results may understate the problems Texas counties will face in November.

Texas conducted the survey early in the summer, before Texas hit a peak of new coronavirus 

infections on July 16, 2020.

11 This rise in cases could make poll workers even more reluctant to 

4 See, e.g., Analysis: Judges Deal Texans More Confusion About Voting by Mail, Texas Tribune (May 29, 

2020) (online at www.texastribune.org/2020/05/29/judges-confusion-texas-vote-by-mail/); Texas Supreme Court 

Temporarily Blocks Harris County from Sending Mail-in Ballot Applications to All Its Voters, Texas Tribune (Sep. 

2, 2020) (online at www.texastribune.org/2020/09/02/Harris-County-absentee-ballott/); In re Texas, 602 S.W.3d 549 

(Tex. 2020). 

5 Texas Sues Harris County to Stop It From Sending All Voters Applications For Mail-In Ballots, Texas 

Tribune (Aug. 31, 2020) (online at www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election2020/2020/08/31/380888/texas-sues-harris-county-to-stop-it-from-sending-all-voters-applications-for-mail-inballots/).

6 Texas Secretary of State, County Survey for 2020 Preparedness (June 26, 2020).

7 Id. (response of Falls County).

8 Id. (response of Fayette County).

9 Id. (response of Culberson County).

10 Id. (response of Nolan County).

11 Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, America Is Reopening But Have 

We Flattened The Curve (online at https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases-50-states/Texas) (accessed on Sept. 6, 

2020).
4

work on Election Day. Recent state guidance that poll workers are not allowed to require voters 

to wear masks may further diminish the willingness of election judges and clerks to staff polls.

12

The second-most frequent concern cited by Texas counties was ensuring enough polling 

locations with sufficient space to follow social distancing guidelines and prevent long lines. For 

example, county officials raised the following concerns:

• “Adequate space to implement social distancing requirements and whether or not 

we can enforce face masks.”13

• “Will we have to do the social distancing with voting machines–6’ apart–if so not 

large enough space. Presidential election so we lease more equipment, will not 

have enough room for that, which means longer lines and with no straight party 

voting even longer lines. If the weather is not good, what will we have to do with 

the people that are in line outside the building?”14 

• “Being able to maintain social distancing. Letting the public know that polling 

locations are safe for voting due sanitizing of the area and voting equipment.”15

• “Social Distancing Guidelines limiting numbers of ExpressVotes [ballot marking 

devices], especially during the General. We don’t have space to have enough 

machines out for such a long ballot. Voters could be waiting in lines for hours.”16

• “Having enough space at early voting and election day locations to meet social 

distancing requirements as recommended by CDC, State, and County.”17

 

Texas Governor Greg Abbott expanded early voting by an additional six days under his 

emergency authorities.

18 This was a positive step, but more must be done to ensure counties 

have sufficient polling locations and staff. Governor Abbott should use his authority to expand 

ballot access through the mail to ensure that every voter eligible for an absentee ballot 

automatically receives an application, as well as proactively assist counties to recruit and hire 

sufficient staff and identify adequate and safe polling locations. Also, in order to relieve 

demands on election staff, Governor Abbott should allow voters to deliver completed mail 

ballots to secure, county-controlled drop boxes, without requiring voters to wait in line and 

present a photo identification. Many states already use such drop boxes, which provide a 

12 Texas Secretary of State, Election Advisory No. 2020-19 (June 18, 2020) (online at 

www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/laws/advisory2020-19.shtml).

13 Texas Secretary of State, County Survey for 2020 Preparedness (June 26, 2020) (response of Aransas 

County).

14 Id. (response of Hood County).

15 Id. (response of Comal County).

16 Id. (response of Erath County).

17 Id. (response of Lubbock County).

18 Office of the Texas Governor, Governor Abbott Issues Proclamation Extending Early Voting Period for 

November 3rd Election (July 27, 2020) (online at https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-issuesproclamation-extending-early-voting-period-for-november-3rd-election).
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convenient alternative to returning ballots by mail, especially in light of potential delays at the 

Postal Service. 

B. Georgia Reversed Its Policy of Sending Absentee Ballot Applications to All 

Voters, Leading to Confusion and Possible Disenfranchisement. 

Georgia state law permits any voter to vote absentee, either by mail or in person.

19 For 

the 2020 primary election, Georgia election officials mailed absentee ballot applications to every 

registered voter. More than half of all voters cast absentee ballots in the primary, up from 6% in 

the 2018 election.

20 For the general election, Georgia officials decided against sending absentee 

ballot applications to every registered voter, even though Georgia’s daily coronavirus cases are 

three times higher than they were on the date of the June primary.21 

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger initially claimed that “it would be impractical and 

too expensive” to mail absentee ballot applications.

22 In an August 28, 2020, letter to the Select 

Subcommittee, Secretary Raffensperger provided two other justifications for this policy change, 

neither of which appear to be supported by the evidence.23 

First, he claimed, “Sending out absentee ballot applications in the June primary obviates 

the need to do it again for the November election” because some voters who requested an

absentee ballot in the primary will automatically receive one for the general election. However, 

Georgia law limits this group of “rollover” voters to individuals who are over 65 years old, 

physically disabled, in the military, or overseas. According to Secretary Raffensperger, more 

than 500,000 voters will automatically receive an absentee ballot for the general election. That 

means that more than 6.5 million remaining voters in Georgia will not automatically receive an 

absentee ballot for the general election, even if they requested one for the primary.24

19 Georgia Secretary of State, Absentee Voting: A Guide for Registered Voters (2014) (online at 

https://sos.ga.gov/admin/uploads/Absentee_Voting_Guide_20142.pdf).

20 Absentee Voting Program Embraced By Georgia Voters, Then Abandoned, Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

(June 29, 2020) (online at www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/absentee-voting-program-embracedgeorgia-voters-then-abandoned/hkNttNsgXlaYZXjUatnvjK/).

21 Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, Georgia: Daily Confirmed Cases (online at 

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases-50-states/georgia) (accessed Sept. 4, 2020).

22 Absentee Voting Program Embraced By Georgia Voters, Then Abandoned, Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

(June 29, 2020) (online at www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/absentee-voting-program-embracedgeorgia-voters-then-abandoned/hkNttNsgXlaYZXjUatnvjK/).

23 Letter from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to Chairman James E. Clyburn, Select 

Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (Aug. 28, 2020) (online at 

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/8-28-

20%20Letter%20from%20GA%20to%20Select%20Subcommittee%20on%20Coronavirus.pdf). 

24 Georgia Secretary of State, Voter Registration Statistics (Sept. 1, 2020) (online at 

https://sos.ga.gov/index.php/Elections/voter_registration_statistics) (indicating 7,002,328 registered voters in the 

State of Georgia). 
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Second, Secretary Raffensperger asserted that sending out absentee ballot applications to 

every voter “could have drastic negative consequences” because some voters who request an 

absentee ballot ultimately vote in person. Specifically, Secretary Raffensperger claimed that 

“sending out absentee ballot applications to all active voters almost certainly increased lines and 

polling place crowding on Election Day during the June primary.”25 However, evidence shows 

that long lines at polling places were concentrated in predominantly black neighborhoods, raising 

questions about the accuracy of Secretary Raffensberger’s claim that mailing absentee ballots 

statewide led to long lines.

26 

Georgia’s decision not to mail out absentee ballot applications to all voters after doing so 

in the primary risks confusing voters and leading some to miss the opportunity to apply for an 

absentee ballot because they expected to once again receive an application by mail. The state’s 

new online absentee ballot application portal, while a worthwhile tool in itself, is in no way a 

substitute, as it requires voters to independently seek out a website they may not know about, as 

opposed to receiving an application in the mail.27 Of course, for Georgia voters who lack 

internet access, the online portal is useless.

Information obtained by the Select Subcommittee also indicates the State does not yet 

have enough poll workers for the November election—a shortage that could be exacerbated if 

more Georgians vote in person because of the decision not to send absentee ballot applications to 

all voters. Secretary Raffensperger reported to the Select Subcommittee that he hopes counties 

will recruit and train 20,000 poll workers for the election season. However, he reported that 

Georgia’s recruitment initiative has so far only identified 5,000 people interested in serving as

poll workers. While the state has not estimated what its voter turnout will be, it is “telling our 

counties to prepare for over 5 million voters in November,” with “about half of our turnout on 

Election Day.”28

The Secretary of State’s office has been aware for months of the potential shortages in 

poll workers. In an April 2020 survey on election preparedness—conducted before the surge in 

coronavirus cases in Georgia this summer—counties raised serious concerns about a lack of poll 

workers in November. For example, Dougherty County reported that it had only 29 poll workers 

ready to serve on Election Day, and no workers for advance voters, when the county had initially 

25 Letter from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to Chairman James E. Clyburn, Select 

Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (Aug. 28, 2020) (online at 

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/8-28-

20%20Letter%20from%20GA%20to%20Select%20Subcommittee%20on%20Coronavirus.pdf). 

26 Georgia’s Election Mess: Many Problems, Plenty of Blame, Few Solutions for November, New York 

Times (June 10, 2020) (online at www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/us/politics/georgia-primary-election-voting.html).

27 Georgia Secretary of State, Absentee Ballot Request (online at https://ballotrequest.sos.ga.gov/) (accessed 

Sept. 8, 2020).

28 Letter from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to Chairman James E. Clyburn, Select 

Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (Aug. 28, 2020) (online at

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/8-28-

20%20Letter%20from%20GA%20to%20Select%20Subcommittee%20on%20Coronavirus.pdf ).
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planned for 196 poll workers on Election Day. The county expected to lose additional 

workers.

29

A shortage of poll workers in Georgia could lead to polling place closures similar to 

those voters faced during the state’s primary. State election officials should work with Georgia 

counties to ensure that they have the poll workers they need, especially for counties with survey 

responses indicating shortages. Also, given the failure to send absentee ballot applications to all 

voters, the state must ensure all voters are aware of the new internet-based request site and 

provide ample alternatives for people without internet access to request absentee ballots.

C. Florida Has Refused to Expand Early Voting or Recruit Poll Workers. 

Florida election officials closed many polling locations during the state’s March 2020 and 

August 2020 primary elections, leading to long lines. In March, election officials closed, moved 

or consolidated 112 polling places across the state.30 Despite low turnout, primary voters faced 

long lines, polling locations with delayed openings,

31 and closures due to poll worker 

shortages.32 Counties struggled to find new polling places to replace planned locations in 

nursing homes and assisted living facilities.33 In the August election, counties again faced poll 

worker shortages and reduced the number of polling locations.

34

29 Dougherty County, COVID-19 Impact Survey (Apr. 6, 2020) (online at

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/GA%20COVID%20Impact%20survey.pd

f).

30 Letter from Andrea Mercado, Executive Director, New Florida Majority, et al. to Governor Ron DeSantis 

et al. (Mar. 15, 2020) (online at https://advancementproject.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/03/Letter_Florida_COVID-19-Media.pdf).

31 Palm Beach County Voters Deal With Closed Polls, Late Openings, Broken Machines, Long Lines, Palm 

Beach Post (Mar. 17, 2020) (online at www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200317/palm-beach-county-votersdealwith-closed-polls-late-openings-broken-machines-long-lines); Help Wanted: Florida Poll Workers to Brave the 

Coronavirus, Tampa Bay Times (July 31, 2020) (online at www.tampabay.com/news/health/2020/07/30/helpwanted-florida-poll-workers-to-brave-the-coronavirus/).

32 Poll Worker Shortage Forces South Florida Voter Scramble, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Mar. 18, 2020) 

(online at www.sun-sentinel.com/coronavirus/fl-ne-south-florida-votes-20200317-

xpfhfymx5rdwfgj32w6zxtsuzustory.html).

33 Polling Places Moved From Nursing Homes; Other Changes Amid Coronavirus Concerns, ABC News 

(Mar. 13, 2020) (online at https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/states-scramble-move-polling-places-nursinghomesstock/story?id=69587292).

34 See, e.g., Floridians Return To The Polls Tuesday For Primary, Tampa Bay Times (Aug. 17, 2020) 

(online at https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2020/08/17/floridians-return-to-the-polls-tuesday-forprimary/); Lee County Reports Shortage of Poll Workers for 2020 Primary, WINK News (Aug. 3, 2020) (online at 

www.winknews.com/2020/08/03/lee-county-supervisor-of-elections-is-expecting-a-shortage-of-poll-workers-forthe-2020-state-primary/); The Push Is On To Recruit Poll Workers For November Election, Tampa Bay Times (Aug. 

31, 2020) (online at www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/elections/2020/08/31/the-push-is-on-to-recruit-pollworkers-for-november-election/).
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Despite the problems Florida counties faced in this year’s primaries, information obtained 

by the Select Subcommittee suggests the state is refusing to take an active role to ensure the 

general election runs smoothly and is instead deferring to Florida’s counties. In response to the 

Select Subcommittee’s questions, Florida’s Secretary of State’s office reported that the state does 

not have any projections for voter turnout, the number of poll workers needed, or the number of 

absentee ballots expected to be submitted. Asked to specify the state’s plans for recruiting poll 

workers for the election, Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee wrote that “poll worker 

recruitment is the responsibility of the county Supervisors of Elections,” and that she was 

participating in recruitment messages on “social media channels.” In response to a question on 

the Florida’s efforts to ensure the state has enough polling places to avoid excessive wait times, 

Secretary Lee responded that it was “for the supervisors to decide, based on local circumstances, 

where to place polling places.”35 

Some Florida counties are struggling to prepare for the general election. In Citrus 

County, Florida, Supervisor of Elections Susan Gill stated in August she could not find enough 

poll workers for the August primary election and was worried about the general election. Ms. 

Gill explained: “Even in a normal year, without COVID, we have a lot of cancellations. We 

don’t have anybody to replace these dropouts.”36

On June 17, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued an executive order providing that 

schools will be closed on November 3 to allow schools to serve as polling places on Election 

Day. The executive order also provided that state employees who serves as poll workers will be 

entitled to 16 hours of administrative leave.

37 This is a positive step, but the Governor must do 

more, including expanding early voting. Florida’s early voting period begins a maximum of 15

days before an election.

38 In April, the Florida Supervisors of Elections wrote to the Governor, 

urging him to allow counties to expand early voting to 22 days prior the November election.39 

Governor DeSantis refused. The Governor should reconsider this decision to ensure everyone in 

Florida can vote safely. As the CDC has explained, expanding early voting spreads out voting

35 Letter from Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee to Chairman James E. Clyburn, Select Subcommittee 

on the Coronavirus Crisis (Sept. 4, 2020) (online at 

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/9-4-

20%20Florida%20Department%20of%20State%20Letter%20to%20Select%20Subcommittee%20on%20the%20Cor

onavirus%20Crisis.pdf).

36 Florida Hit By Poll Worker Shortage, Tampa Bay Counties Already Trying to Recruit for November 

Election, WFLA (Aug. 14, 2020) (online at www.wfla.com/8-on-your-side/florida-hit-by-poll-worker-shortagetampa-bay-counties-already-trying-to-recruit-for-november-election/).

37 Office of the Governor of Florida, Executive Order Number 20-149 (June 17, 2020) (online at 

www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/orders/2020/EO_20-149.pdf).

38 Fla. Stat. § 101.657(1)(d). The law requires early voting to begin 10 days before an election and gives 

discretion to local elections supervisors to extend it to 11 to 15 days before an election.

39 Letter from Tammy Jones, President, Florida Supervisors of Elections, to Governor of Florida Ron 

DeSantis (April 7, 2020) (online at www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article241809436.html).
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over a longer period of time, minimizing long lines at polling places and improving social 

distancing.40

D. Wisconsin Faces a Potential Poll Worker Shortage. 

Wisconsin voters faced long lines due to closed polling places during the state’s April

2020 primary, and information obtained by the Select Subcommittee raises questions about 

whether Wisconsin will be able to recruit a sufficient number of poll workers to avoid closing 

polls in the general election. For the November election, the Wisconsin Election Commission

(WEC) estimated that 3.01 million voters may participate, although the “number could be 

higher,” so it is preparing ballots and supplies for 3.4 million voters. The WEC informed the 

Select Subcommittee that the state’s 1,850 municipalities need nearly 30,000 poll workers for the 

general election.

41 The WEC has engaged in recruitment efforts with templates and online 

resources, and the state allows student clerks as well as local and state employees to serve. 

Despite these efforts, the Wisconsin Election Commission recognizes that poll worker 

recruitment will continue to be difficult for the November election and has made “an initial 

request for approximately 1,100” National Guard members to be deployed as poll workers to 

address poll worker shortages across the state. When previously deployed in the state’s April 

and August elections, the National Guard members staffed polls in their own communities and 

wore civilian clothes.42 For the November election, the WEC has told the Subcommittee, “Our 

priority is to utilize all other channels ahead of November to avoid needing to again use this 

valuable state resource.”43 Addressing poll worker shortages is critically important, but using 

the National Guard raises concerns about voter intimidation, especially given the history of law 

enforcement suppressing the votes of people of color.44 If Wisconsin moves forward with use of 

the National Guard, it is critical that the state ensure no voter intimidation occurs.

40 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Considerations for Election Polling Locations and Voters

(June 22, 2020) (online at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/election-polling-locations.html).

41 Letter from Meagan Wolfe, Administrator, Wisconsin Election Commission, to Chairman James E. 

Clyburn, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (Aug. 28, 2020) (online at 

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/8-28-

20%20Letter%20from%20WI%20to%20Clyburn%20Lofgren%20August%2028%20Wisconsin.pdf).

42 Wisconsin Election Commission, How Wisconsin Is Prepared for the November Election (Sept. 1, 2020) 

(online at https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2020-

09/D.%20How%20Wisconsin%20is%20Prepared%20for%20the%20November%203%20Election_0.pdf).

43 Letter from Meagan Wolfe, Administrator, Wisconsin Election Commission, to Chairman James E. 

Clyburn, Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis (Aug. 28, 2020) (online at

https://coronavirus.house.gov/sites/democrats.coronavirus.house.gov/files/8-28-

20%20Letter%20from%20WI%20to%20Clyburn%20Lofgren%20August%2028%20Wisconsin.pdf).

44 Amid Accusations of Violence, Some Say National Guard Should No Longer Staff Voting Stations, The 

Guardian (June 17, 2020) (online at www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/17/us-national-guard-polling-sitesvoting-concerns).
10

CONCLUSION

The Select Subcommittee investigation raises concerns about election preparedness in 

Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Wisconsin, including whether these states are prepared to provide 

adequate voting by mail, extended early voting, and safe polling places as recommended by the 

CDC. Texas’s refusal to expand absentee voting and the urgent warnings from counties about 

shortages of poll workers and polling locations suggest the state’s voters could face significant 

delays and long lines on Election Day. Other states also face shortages of poll workers that, if 

not addressed, will mean voters could be waiting in hours-long lines to cast their ballot. 

Some states have undertaken successful efforts to recruit new poll workers and have 

taken steps to address the need for safe polling locations. The Michigan Secretary of State 

launched a website aimed at recruiting younger poll workers, which has garnered over 10,000 

election workers.45 In California, the Secretary of State also established a website to recruit new 

poll workers, and partnered with private and public entities to promote it,46 as have the 

secretaries of state in Iowa47 and Kentucky.48 

In order for poll workers and voters to be safe, states should guide and assist localities 

with polling place siting. The Infectious Diseases Society of America recommends wellventilated locations, such as “school gymnasiums, community recreation centers, convention 

centers, and large parking lots (where weather permits),” as well as “curbside voting.”49 

Vermont’s Secretary of State issued a directive encouraging election officials to consider

“outdoor polling places” as well as “drive-through polling places.”50 Michigan’s Secretary of 

State has partnered with professional sports teams, including the Detroit Pistons, to use sports 

facilities to accommodate larger crowds and promote physical distancing.51 Advocates have also 

45 Committee on Homeland Security, Testimony of Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, Hearing 

on Protecting America’s Democracy: Ensuring Every Vote Counts (Aug. 28, 2020) (online at 

https://homeland.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Testimony%20-%20Benson.pdf).

46 Committee on House Administration, Testimony of Alex Padilla, California Secretary of State, Hearing 

on Voting Safely in a Pandemic (Aug. 28, 2020) (online at 

https://docs.house.gov/meetings/HA/HA00/20200828/110971/HHRG-116-HA00-Wstate-PadillaA-20200828.pdf).

47 Iowa Secretary of State, Become a Precinct Election Official (online at https://pollworker.iowa.gov/) 

(accessed Sept. 3, 2020).

48 Kentucky Secretary of State, Voter Information Portal (online at 

https://vrsws.sos.ky.gov/ovrweb/govoteky) (accessed Sept. 9, 2020).

49 Infectious Diseases Society of America and Brennan Center for Justice, Guidelines for Healthy InPerson Voting (Aug. 12, 2020) (online at www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2020-

08/2020_08_Guide%20for%20Healthy%20In%20Person%20Voting_Finalv2.pdf). 

50 State of Vermont Secretary of State, First Statewide Elections Directive (July 20, 2020) (online at 

https://sos.vermont.gov/media/hxgjjdkb/secretary-of-state-s-first-2020-statewide-election-procedures-directive.pdf).

51 The Detroit News, Pistons Rally Behind Get Out the Vote Message (July 28, 2020) (online at 

www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2020/07/28/pistons-ramp-up-get-out-vote-message/5525803002/). 
11

called for states to make Election Day a school holiday to free up educational buildings to serve 

as polling locations,

52 similar to what Florida’s Governor achieved in his executive order.

With just two months left before the general election, states cannot simply defer to local 

election officials to address these problems. Instead, states should move swiftly and proactively

to implement CDC recommendations and ensure a free, fair, and safe election. 

Some cities in the four states discussed in this report also plan to use sports arenas as polling places. See, e.g., 

American Airlines Center To Be Largest Voting Center in Dallas County on Election Day, NBC DFW (Aug. 28, 

2020) (online at www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/american-airlines-center-to-be-largest-votingcenter-in-dallas-county-on-election-day/2434574/); Atlanta Hawks to Transform State Farm Arena Into Massive 

Voting Station for 2020 Elections (June 30, 2020) (online at 

www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/hawks/2020/06/30/2020-election-atlanta-hawks-turn-state-farm-arena-votingstation/3283993001/); Fiserv Forum And Miller Park To Be Used For Early Voting, Milwaukee Officials Say,

Wisconsin Public Radio (Aug. 31, 2020) (online at www.wpr.org/fiserv-forum-and-miller-park-be-used-earlyvoting-milwaukee-officials-say); Amalie Arena Will Serve as Early Voting Site for November Election, Tampa Bay 

Times (Sept. 4, 2020) (online at www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/elections/2020/09/04/amalie-arena-will-serveas-early-voting-site-for-november-election/).

52 The Looming Threat to Voting in Person, The Atlantic (June 27, 2020) (online at 

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/looming-threat-voting-person/613552/).