Joe Biden filling out papers for the Democratic Nominee Party
Photo: Carolyn Kaster / APDemocratic presidential nominee-designate Joe Biden has defended the option of postal voting against allegations by incumbent Donald Trump. Voting by postal vote is "safe," tweeted Biden - and added in a mocking swipe at President Trump: "And don't rely on me, but on the US President." How secure the method is, is shown by the fact that Trump has just applied in the state of Florida to vote there in the primaries by postal vote.
Trump and his wife Melania had applied for postal ballot papers at their Florida residence this week for local area codes due on Tuesday, the Palm Beach electoral authority website showed. Trump has already voted on postal votes several times in the past. At the same time, the president has been warning for weeks that the foreseeable increase in postal votes in the presidential election on November 3rd due to the corona pandemic could lead to major electoral fraud. Trump has so far not provided any solid evidence for his fears.
Trump warned on Thursday that postal votes could lead to a rigged election. "It's going to be the biggest scam in history," he said. In states like Virginia, postal ballot papers would be sent to "dead and dogs," he said. Experts and many Republicans have rejected Trump's warning.
Support for the post office? Trump threatens the veto
Most US states are expecting significantly more postal voters because of the pandemic. Many states have made it easier to apply for the election by mail. Some even proactively send election papers to citizens. Suddenly, a company that had hitherto rather stumbled was the focus of the election year: the American Post Office (USPS). The company is run by a major republican donor and is already struggling with deficits and delays in deliveries. But without the timely delivery of the postal voting documents - the deadlines differ from state to state - in the worst case, hundreds of thousands or even more ballot papers could go untold.
Trump threatened on Thursday, however, to veto an agreement on a new corona aid package with the Democrats if it should contain billions for the Post. "That means they (the Democrats) cannot get a universal postal vote," Trump told the conservative broadcaster Fox Business. The Democrats would need this money so that the Post "can take all those billions and millions of ballots". The interview sparked heavy criticism.
Icon: The mirroroka / dpa