Alex Padilla to Democratic convention: Don’t let Trump intimidate mail voters
California Secretary of State Alex Padilla got a speaking spot at Thursday night’s Democratic convention to reassure voters his office would make sure mail ballots would be counted — and blast President Donald Trump for trying to slow the process.
Padilla is often mentioned as a potential U.S. Senate successor to Sen. Kamala Harris, nominated by the party Wednesday as its vice presidential candidate, if she wins in November. He’s been secretary of state since January 2015.
He appeared in a two and a half minute spot Thursday with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Their talk got a coveted prime spot on a night when convention viewership is usually at its peak.
“Elections changes lives. That’s why we’ve seen so many attacks on our right to vote, including many that specifically target working families and young people and communities of color,” Padilla said.
He took aim squarely at Trump, who has been highly critical of mail-in balloting. Voting by mail is likely to be used far more widely this year thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Despite what he says, Donald Trump can’t cancel it but he and Republicans are making it too hard for so many to cast their ballots. And now he’s attacking vote by mail to distract and confuse voters,” Padilla said.
Trump last month tweeted “With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???” Trump cannot delay the election, and there has been no evidence that mail-in voting has led to widespread fraud.
He’s also opposed additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, saying it would help mail-in voting. House Democrats have scheduled a vote Saturday to authorize the money, though the Republican-run Senate has not signaled it will go along.
Benson reminded viewers that Trump, his family and some staff all vote by mail.
Padilla has written to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that he is “gravely concerned” about national reports of postal service slowdowns with Election Day looming as well as changes in delivery protocol DeJoy has implemented to cut costs.
“But now Trump has admitted he’s trying to sabotage the post office to undermine voting by mail and we’re not gonna let him do that,” Padilla said. “Our job is to make sure everyone can vote safely whether in person or by mail and your job is to make sure you vote.”
So, he advised, ”Don’t let anyone keep you from exercising your sacred vote. Make your plan to vote. Grab your vote and head to the polls the first day they are open.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 7:52 PM with the headline "Alex Padilla to Democratic convention: Don’t let Trump intimidate mail voters."
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