$2 Billion Needed To Make Presidential Elections Coronavirus Ready: Study

If the Coronavirus still persists to be a problem at the time of the general election in November, in the United States, the Federal Government will be forced to spend upto $2 billion to make the elections safe for the voters to participate in the elections.

The Brennan Center for Justice carried out a study based on the current scenario and came up with staggering numbers. According to the study, if Coronavirus scare exists at the time of the elections, several sweeping nationwide changes would have to be made to the current voting system to make it safe for the voters.

Changes to the voting system includes universal mail-in voting, easier online voter registration and more.

The mail-in process would require mailing and receiving the ballots. According to the study, this would cost approximately between $413 million to $593 million alone. The costs incurred includes the construction of ballot box in many states, where the voters can drop their mail-in ballots.

"Regardless of Covid-19, people without Internet and mail access, those who need language assistance to vote, and people with disabilities who rely on voting machines to cast a private and independent ballot may be disenfranchised if polling places are closed," the report said.

This process of maintaining and bolstering the in-person polling places would cost a huge chunk, approximately $270 million. Along with it, the cost of public education to spread awareness regarding the virus and the new changes implemented would cost close to $250 million, The Hill reported citing the study report.

"State officials, advocates, and citizens should take steps to reassure citizens that voting will be safe and to guard against the use of Covid-19 to suppress voters or otherwise manipulate the election," the study stated.

The U.S. is currently gripped by the coronavirus scare and several states including Ohio, which was supposed to vote on Tuesday. Over 11,000 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country. Owing to the pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a “stay home” for the 40 million residents in the state.