On April 6, 2020, Millennial Action Project (MAP) partnered with Unite America Institute to host a briefing for state legislators across the country interested in learning more about Vote at Home systems. The event took place through a video conference, and speakers included Ohio Secretary of State and Founding Ohio Future Caucus Co-Chair Frank LaRose, Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano, and MAP President and Founder Steven Olikara.

The purpose of the briefing was to discuss voting solutions in order to ensure that every American has the ability to exercise their right to vote without risking their health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion contrasted the elections and vote-by-mail efforts of Olikara’s home state of Wisconsin and Frank LaRose’s home state of Ohio.

Republican Frank LaRose stated, “The consent of the governed is how we derive any sense of legitimacy that we have as elected leaders, and so what that means is that . . . we have to make sure that our democracy continues to function in a way that is accessible to all registered voters, and of course, in a way that is considered to be legitimate by the people who are under the government.”

Nick Troiano discussed the importance of Vote at Home systems amidst partisan divides: “Pandemics are not partisan, the virus is not just a threat in red states or blue states, or just to Democratic voters or Republican voters. And so the solution we’re seeking is one that puts voters first regardless of party.”

The event was part of the larger Partnering to Ensure Election Resiliency (P.E.E.R.) Project, in which MAP engages young policymakers and partners across sectors to take action now to safeguard upcoming elections while protecting voters as they conduct their civic duty.