npr--2020-10-28--It May Be Too Late To Mail Back Your Ballot. Election Officials Stress Other Options

It May Be Too Late To Mail Back Your Ballot .
Election Officials Stress Other Options Election officials in many states say it is now too late for voters to return absentee ballots by mail and are encouraging them instead to deliver their ballots by hand or vote in person .
State rules differ about how late ballots can be received and still count .
Absentee ballots must be received on Election Day in more than two dozen states , including a handful of key swing states such as Arizona , Florida , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states approved new rules this year that would allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted , so long as they are received within a specified time window after Nov. 3 .
Other states already had more generous deadlines on the books .
But with the end of voting now less than a week away , election experts and many state officials said there is no longer enough time to ensure ballots sent through the mail will be delivered in time , especially given service delays with the U.S .
Postal Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ballot as of this date should not mail their ballots and should find another means to vote , '' said David Fineman , chair of the nonpartisan Fair Elections Center and a former chair of the Postal Service board of governors .
Action in the courts has also added new urgency in the potentially pivotal swing state of Wisconsin .
On Monday , the Supreme Court rejected Wisconsin 's plan to count mail ballots received six days after Election Day if the envelopes were postmarked by Nov. 3 .
The ballots must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clerks by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. or they will not count .
And the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed ballot extensions in North Carolina and Pennsylvania .
According to an NPR analysis this summer , thousands of ballots were rejected during the Wisconsin primary because they arrived too late .
As of Tuesday , more than 300,000 absentee ballots in Wisconsin had not yet been returned .
President Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 by fewer than 23,000 votes .
In states with stringent return deadlines , officials are encouraging voters to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as submitting their ballots at official ballot drop boxes .
`` We are too close to Election Day , and the right to vote is too important , to rely on the Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots on time , '' Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wrote in a statement on Tuesday .
`` Citizens who already have an absentee ballot should sign the back of the envelope and hand-deliver it to their city or township clerk 's office or ballot drop box as soon as possible . ''
In Arizona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday , `` Today is the last recommended day to mail back your ballot .
After today , return your ballot to any election drop box or voting location in your county . ''
Other state election offices amplified similar messages on Tuesday , which they deemed the last day to mail a ballot with confidence it will arrive on time .
The Postal Service recommends mailing ballots at least seven days before a state 's deadline .
The agency has been plagued by service delays after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have ordered some of the changes reversed , postal customers have continued to experience slowdowns .
DeJoy has pledged to prioritize election mail and supply additional resources to process it , including expedited handling , extra deliveries and special pickups .
`` With a record number of people across the country voting by mail , the U.S .
Postal Service 's number one priority between now and the November election is the secure , timely delivery of the nation 's Election Mail , '' Postal Service spokesperson Martha Johnson told NPR in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pieces the week of Oct. 10 , an increase of 23 % compared with the average volume in September .
The Postal Service said 523 million pieces of election mail , including ballots and campaign literature , have been processed , an increase of 162 % over the 2016 general election .
The week of Oct. 16 , 96.7 % of ballots were delivered on time , according to figures filed in federal court and obtained by The Washington Post .
But some worry that not all ballots get properly identified as election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's a number that seems OK , but it leaves out a lot , '' said J. Remy Green , an attorney who is representing a group of voters in a lawsuit against the Postal Service .
The Postal Service defines on-time as delivery within one to three days .
The on-time delivery rate for first-class mail generally remains below 90 % nationally .
According to a report published by Sen. Gary Peters , D-Mich. , the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs , slowdowns persist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the on-time delivery rate for first-class mail was 71.6 % the week of Oct. 10 .
In the Philadelphia metro area , it was 76.9 % .
As part of a court order this week , the Postal Service has agreed to release daily performance data , though it has cautioned about the accuracy of the daily figures .
The data for Tuesday showed national on-time performance dropping below 70 % .
For voters who have requested an absentee ballot but have n't returned it yet , experts said the best option @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to their local election clerk or an official drop box , if available .
If voters decide they want to vote in person , experts said they should bring their blank absentee ballot with them , as they may be able to submit their completed absentee ballot at the polls .
Voters may also be able to turn over the blank absentee ballot and then cast their vote in a traditional voting booth .
In some states , voters who requested an absentee ballot but now want to vote in person will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their polling place .
Those ballots will be counted once clerks can verify the voter did not also return an absentee ballot .
In the past , there have been problems with precincts not having enough provisional ballots on hand .
If voters can not cast their ballot by other means , attorney Green said sending a ballot in the mail at this point is still better than giving up on voting entirely .
`` It is so profoundly better to take a chance that your vote is counted than not vote at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the U.S .
Elections Project , more than 70 million people have already voted in the 2020 election , including almost 50 million by mail .

It May Be Too Late To Mail Back Your Ballot. Election Officials Stress Other Options
Enlarge this image toggle caption Lynne Sladky/AP Lynne Sladky/AP
Updated on Friday at 12:28 p.m. ET
Election officials in many states say it is now too late for voters to return absentee ballots by mail and are encouraging them instead to deliver their ballots by hand or vote in person.
State rules differ about how late ballots can be received and still count. Absentee ballots must be received on Election Day in more than two dozen states, including a handful of key swing states such as Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, some states approved new rules this year that would allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted, so long as they are received within a specified time window after Nov. 3. Other states already had more generous deadlines on the books.
But with the end of voting now less than a week away, election experts and many state officials said there is no longer enough time to ensure ballots sent through the mail will be delivered in time, especially given service delays with the U.S. Postal Service.
"Voters who have not mailed the ballot as of this date should not mail their ballots and should find another means to vote," said David Fineman, chair of the nonpartisan Fair Elections Center and a former chair of the Postal Service board of governors.
Action in the courts has also added new urgency in the potentially pivotal swing state of Wisconsin. On Monday, the Supreme Court rejected Wisconsin's plan to count mail ballots received six days after Election Day if the envelopes were postmarked by Nov. 3. The ballots must now be in the hands of election clerks by 8 p.m. on Nov. 3. or they will not count.
Elsewhere, the Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed ballot extensions in North Carolina and Pennsylvania; on Thursday, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an attempt in Minnesota to give voters affected by the pandemic more time.
According to an NPR analysis this summer, thousands of ballots were rejected during the Wisconsin primary because they arrived too late. As of Tuesday, more than 300,000 absentee ballots in Wisconsin had not yet been returned. President Trump won Wisconsin in 2016 by fewer than 23,000 votes.
Warnings from state officials
In states with stringent return deadlines, officials are encouraging voters to come up with alternative voting plans, such as submitting their ballots at official ballot drop boxes.
"We are too close to Election Day, and the right to vote is too important, to rely on the Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots on time," Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson wrote in a statement on Tuesday. "Citizens who already have an absentee ballot should sign the back of the envelope and hand-deliver it to their city or township clerk's office or ballot drop box as soon as possible."
In Arizona, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs tweeted on Tuesday, "Today is the last recommended day to mail back your ballot. After today, return your ballot to any election drop box or voting location in your county."
Other state election offices amplified similar messages on Tuesday, which they deemed the last day to mail a ballot with confidence it will arrive on time.
A surge in mail volume
The Postal Service recommends mailing ballots at least seven days before a state's deadline. The agency has been plagued by service delays after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy began implementing new cost-cutting measures. Though courts have ordered some of the changes reversed, postal customers have continued to experience slowdowns.
DeJoy has pledged to prioritize election mail and supply additional resources to process it, including expedited handling, extra deliveries and special pickups.
"With a record number of people across the country voting by mail, the U.S. Postal Service's number one priority between now and the November election is the secure, timely delivery of the nation's Election Mail," Postal Service spokesperson Martha Johnson told NPR in a statement.
Total mail surpassed 3.1 billion pieces the week of Oct. 10, an increase of 23% compared with the average volume in September. The Postal Service said 523 million pieces of election mail, including ballots and campaign literature, have been processed, an increase of 162% over the 2016 general election.
The week of Oct. 16, 96.7% of ballots were delivered on time, according to figures filed in federal court and obtained by The Washington Post.
But some worry that not all ballots get properly identified as election mail flagged for priority processing.
"It's a number that seems OK, but it leaves out a lot," said J. Remy Green, an attorney who is representing a group of voters in a lawsuit against the Postal Service.
The Postal Service defines on-time as delivery within one to three days. The on-time delivery rate for first-class mail generally remains below 90% nationally.
According to a report published by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, slowdowns persist in many postal districts. In Detroit, the on-time delivery rate for first-class mail was 71.6% the week of Oct. 10. In the Philadelphia metro area, it was 76.9%.
As part of a court order this week, the Postal Service has agreed to release daily performance data, though it has cautioned about the accuracy of the daily figures. The data for Tuesday showed national on-time performance dropping below 70%.
Options for voters
For voters who have requested an absentee ballot but haven't returned it yet, experts said the best option is to deliver a completed absentee ballot to their local election clerk or an official drop box, if available.
If voters decide they want to vote in person, experts said they should bring their blank absentee ballot with them, as they may be able to submit their completed absentee ballot at the polls. Voters may also be able to turn over the blank absentee ballot and then cast their vote in a traditional voting booth.
In some states, voters who requested an absentee ballot but now want to vote in person will be required to cast a provisional ballot at their polling place. Those ballots will be counted once clerks can verify the voter did not also return an absentee ballot. In the past, there have been problems with precincts not having enough provisional ballots on hand.
If voters cannot cast their ballot by other means, attorney Green said sending a ballot in the mail at this point is still better than giving up on voting entirely.
"It is so profoundly better to take a chance that your vote is counted than not vote at all," Green said.
According to the U.S. Elections Project, more than 70 million people have already voted in the 2020 election, including almost 50 million by mail.


npr--2020-10-28--Trump Stokes Fear In The Suburbs, But Few Low-Income Families Ever Make It There

Trump Stokes Fear In The Suburbs , But Few Low-Income Families Ever Make It There In an effort to appeal to suburban voters , President Trump has been promising to keep low-income housing out of their neighborhoods , saying it should be harder for families in need of affordable housing to `` invade '' the suburbs .
But 50 years after Congress passed the Fair Housing Act , the reality is families with low incomes have never flooded into the suburbs .
In fact , few have made it there .
The majority of housing built with government subsidies is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research shows .
And what 's more , fewer than 14 percent of families with children who have Section 8 housing vouchers are able to move to low poverty neighborhoods — historically , the suburbs .
The vouchers , which pay the difference between a modest rent and what someone can afford , are supposed to be a ticket out of poverty .
But in many metropolitan areas like Dallas it has n't worked out that way .
NPR and the PBS series Frontline began following several families in 2016 who were trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with good schools , jobs and low poverty .
In Dallas that generally means the area 's wealthy northern enclaves , or a few scattered neighborhoods in the south .
None of the families found that the vouchers lived up to the promise .
`` I 've been to Oak Cliff .
I 've been to South Dallas .
I 've been to Pleasant Grove .
I 've been way down south , '' said Farryn Giles in 2016 , who was homeless and trying to find a place for herself and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Another mother , C'Artis Harris , who had to sleep with her kids at times in her van in store parking lots , drove to and called dozens of places in the northern suburbs with no luck .
`` Maybe it 's meant for me to live in the 'hood , '' she said four years ago .
Today , both women live in public or subsidized housing in areas of high poverty .
Giles says she felt lucky to get a spot in Dallas public housing , so at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year of homelessness , living in shelters and on people 's floors with her kids , Harris finally ended up in a federally subsidized housing complex .
She , like Giles , turned in her Section 8 voucher when she could n't find anyone to take it .
`` It was so painful to finally , finally get to have [ a ] Section 8 voucher , '' and then not be able to use it , Harris says .
They were so excited when they first got it , she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yay ! ''
she remembers thinking .
`` No , no you do n't .
You get to go and be homeless again and live in shelters and hotels and live in people 's houses . ''
She says the government subsidized housing complex she lives in now is hard for the kids .
There are no playgrounds , no activities , few grocery stores and little grass .
`` It 's been chaotic , '' she says .
`` It 's a lot .
Daily .
Crazy , chaotic arguments .
Gun @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress passed the Fair Housing Act in 1968 , the federal government has been trying to undo a century of racist and unfair housing policies .
Those policies gave white people government-backed mortgages and literal highways to prime real estate — and redlined African Americans and people of color into less desirable urban cores .
But 50 years later , while the country is more diverse than ever , studies show housing remains deeply segregated .
African-American homeownership rates , which had shown some improvement , backslid with the 2008 recession .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of COVID-19 , evictions are expected to skyrocket .
Five years ago , the Obama administration created a rule that required cities and towns to try to eliminate housing segregation , and tied federal funding to their efforts .
But the Trump administration recently reversed that rule , and changed another regulation which affects when people can sue if they face discrimination .
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson said the rules were overly bureaucratic .
Without them , though , housing advocates say moving low-income families into the suburbs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be much harder .
It was already pretty difficult .
Four years ago , developer Terri Anderson faced tough local opposition when she was trying to build an apartment complex with some units set aside for Section 8 voucher holders on the line between two wealthy Dallas suburbs : McKinney and Frisco .
`` The city actually called a public hearing for our property and about 250 angry residents showed up , '' she said at the time .
`` Our superintendent has been threatened .
Police officers blocked our entrance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the city 's opposition was n't about race or poverty .
It was about building permits , they said .
Now four years later , the complex has been built .
On a recent day on the site , Anderson walked out of the newly completed rental office of a rustic modern apartment complex , with stone walls , a small movie theater , and gym .
`` We did [ it ] , '' Anderson said , waving a hand at the complex .
`` 132 units .
The greatest thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't look affordable . ''
Sitting down at a picnic table near the playground , she said it 's still difficult to believe how hard the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods fought her .
She said the neighbors complained that schools would be overcrowded , the local property values would go down and there would be too much traffic .
Anderson says none of those things materialized .
According to Zillow , real estate prices have appreciated 13 percent since 2016 , and in 2018 Money magazine named Frisco the number one best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says as soon as she opened up the building to renters , she was surprised that the people who showed up to fill the low income units were school teachers , day care workers , even a couple administrative workers for the city that tried to keep the development out .
And she says , except for one guy who still drives around the complex staring at people , these days everyone in the community seems to have gotten over it .
The community 's online message board , once filled with negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people seem to have gotten on with their lives .
`` It 's prejudice , honestly , that is preventing the housing from being developed , '' she says .
Anderson 's project was a few years too late for C'Artis Harris and her kids .
Harris still wants good schools , parks , peace and quiet but she 's not sure how to find them , or if she ever will .
Dallas ' wealthy suburbs do n't hold the promise they once did .
`` I think they ruined it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think I 'd rather go somewhere else where I 'm accepted .
You know ? ''

Trump Stokes Fear In The Suburbs, But Few Low-Income Families Ever Make It There
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brandon Thibodeaux for NPR Brandon Thibodeaux for NPR
In an effort to appeal to suburban voters, President Trump has been promising to keep low-income housing out of their neighborhoods, saying it should be harder for families in need of affordable housing to "invade" the suburbs.
But 50 years after Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, the reality is families with low incomes have never flooded into the suburbs. In fact, few have made it there.
The majority of housing built with government subsidies is still built in high poverty areas, research shows. And what's more, fewer than 14 percent of families with children who have Section 8 housing vouchers are able to move to low poverty neighborhoods — historically, the suburbs.
The vouchers, which pay the difference between a modest rent and what someone can afford, are supposed to be a ticket out of poverty. But in many metropolitan areas like Dallas it hasn't worked out that way.
NPR and the PBS series Frontline began following several families in 2016 who were trying to use vouchers to move to neighborhoods with good schools, jobs and low poverty. In Dallas that generally means the area's wealthy northern enclaves, or a few scattered neighborhoods in the south. None of the families found that the vouchers lived up to the promise.
"I've been to Oak Cliff. I've been to South Dallas. I've been to Pleasant Grove. I've been way down south," said Farryn Giles in 2016, who was homeless and trying to find a place for herself and her son. "Nobody wants my voucher."
Another mother, C'Artis Harris, who had to sleep with her kids at times in her van in store parking lots, drove to and called dozens of places in the northern suburbs with no luck.
"Maybe it's meant for me to live in the 'hood," she said four years ago.
About This Story This story was reported in partnership with the PBS series Frontline, which produced the 2017 documentary Poverty, Politics and Profit. That film investigates the billions spent on housing low-income people and why so few get the help they need. WATCH 'Poverty, Politics and Profit'
Today, both women live in public or subsidized housing in areas of high poverty. Giles says she felt lucky to get a spot in Dallas public housing, so at least she hasn't been homeless.
After a year of homelessness, living in shelters and on people's floors with her kids, Harris finally ended up in a federally subsidized housing complex. She, like Giles, turned in her Section 8 voucher when she couldn't find anyone to take it.
"It was so painful to finally, finally get to have [a] Section 8 voucher," and then not be able to use it, Harris says.
They were so excited when they first got it, she says.
"We get to move! Yay!" she remembers thinking. "No, no you don't. You get to go and be homeless again and live in shelters and hotels and live in people's houses."
She says the government subsidized housing complex she lives in now is hard for the kids. There are no playgrounds, no activities, few grocery stores and little grass.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Laura Sullivan/NPR Laura Sullivan/NPR
"It's been chaotic," she says. "It's a lot. Daily. Crazy, chaotic arguments. Gun play. Drugs."
Ever since Congress passed the Fair Housing Act in 1968, the federal government has been trying to undo a century of racist and unfair housing policies. Those policies gave white people government-backed mortgages and literal highways to prime real estate — and redlined African Americans and people of color into less desirable urban cores.
But 50 years later, while the country is more diverse than ever, studies show housing remains deeply segregated. African-American homeownership rates, which had shown some improvement, backslid with the 2008 recession. They still haven't recovered.
Now, because of COVID-19, evictions are expected to skyrocket.
Five years ago, the Obama administration created a rule that required cities and towns to try to eliminate housing segregation, and tied federal funding to their efforts. But the Trump administration recently reversed that rule, and changed another regulation which affects when people can sue if they face discrimination. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson said the rules were overly bureaucratic.
Without them, though, housing advocates say moving low-income families into the suburbs, and getting affordable housing developments built there will be much harder. It was already pretty difficult.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Terri Anderson Terri Anderson
Four years ago, developer Terri Anderson faced tough local opposition when she was trying to build an apartment complex with some units set aside for Section 8 voucher holders on the line between two wealthy Dallas suburbs: McKinney and Frisco.
"The city actually called a public hearing for our property and about 250 angry residents showed up," she said at the time. "Our superintendent has been threatened. Police officers blocked our entrance."
Back then, Frisco officials said the city's opposition wasn't about race or poverty. It was about building permits, they said.
Now four years later, the complex has been built.
On a recent day on the site, Anderson walked out of the newly completed rental office of a rustic modern apartment complex, with stone walls, a small movie theater, and gym.
"We did [it]," Anderson said, waving a hand at the complex. "132 units. The greatest thing about affordable housing is that it doesn't look affordable."
Sitting down at a picnic table near the playground, she said it's still difficult to believe how hard the residents in the surrounding neighborhoods fought her.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Laura Sullivan/NPR Laura Sullivan/NPR
She said the neighbors complained that schools would be overcrowded, the local property values would go down and there would be too much traffic. Anderson says none of those things materialized.
According to Zillow, real estate prices have appreciated 13 percent since 2016, and in 2018 Money magazine named Frisco the number one best place to live in America.
Anderson says as soon as she opened up the building to renters, she was surprised that the people who showed up to fill the low income units were school teachers, day care workers, even a couple administrative workers for the city that tried to keep the development out.
And she says, except for one guy who still drives around the complex staring at people, these days everyone in the community seems to have gotten over it. The community's online message board, once filled with negative comments, has died down, and people seem to have gotten on with their lives.
"It's prejudice, honestly, that is preventing the housing from being developed," she says.
Anderson's project was a few years too late for C'Artis Harris and her kids. Harris still wants good schools, parks, peace and quiet but she's not sure how to find them, or if she ever will. Dallas' wealthy suburbs don't hold the promise they once did.
"I think they ruined it for me," she says. "I think I'd rather go somewhere else where I'm accepted. You know?"


npr--2020-10-28--Coronavirus Is A Key Campaign Issue: What's Joe Biden's Plan?

As Election Day nears , the pandemic looms large .
Amid a surge in new cases , the coronavirus has changed the way we live , work and — perhaps — how some Americans will vote .
As President Trump makes the case that his leadership has saved lives in the pandemic and ushered in record-fast vaccine and therapeutics development , Joe Biden has described Trump 's handling of COVID-19 as `` totally irresponsible '' and points to American 's health as the nation 's top domestic issue .
Trump 's approach to handling the pandemic is clear from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the authority for the coronavirus response to states , including testing and contact tracing .
He 's invested heavily in vaccine development .
He signed two coronavirus relief packages and has indicated he 'd sign another one after the election .
But what would Biden do ?
Biden 's campaign has a seven-point plan to beat COVID-19 and other proposals for health care and economic recovery that support that vision .
NPR asked his advisers for details on his approach , which includes some familiar elements , as well as some less-expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` You would see an approach that 's driven by science and by scientists , '' says physician Vivek Murthy , who is a key adviser to the Biden campaign on COVID-19 .
And he 'd focus on uniting states around some common practices , says Ezekiel Emanuel , a physician and University of Pennsylvania professor who has briefed Biden on health policy but has no formal campaign position .
Instead of `` different states doing different things , the goal would be to get all the states singing from the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance , Biden 's plan says it would direct the CDC to provide specific guidance — based on the degree of viral spread in a community — for when to open or close businesses and schools , when to impose restrictions on gathering sizes or when stay-home orders may be called for .
`` Social distancing is not a light switch .
It is a dial , '' the Biden campaign states in its plan .
It would create a national `` pandemic dashboard '' to share this information .
This is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health experts , who released a framework for assessing community risk .
And , Biden is calling on every American to wear a mask when they are close to people outside their household .
He says he 'd work with every governor to make this mandatory in their state .
Many states already have mask mandates , but at a time when research suggests that universal masking could save more than 100,000 lives , there 's currently no nationwide coordination or requirement .
The Biden campaign says the goal is to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regular , reliable and free testing . ''
It would work to double the number of drive-through testing sites and invest in `` next-generation testing '' including home tests and instant tests .
`` It 's not enough to know in seven days or five days or three days whether or not you have COVID , '' Biden said on CBS ' 60 Minutes .
If there 's a long lag time , a person may spread the disease unwittingly while waiting for results .
There are currently several home test kits that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a laboratory in development , but none are yet FDA-approved .
While there has been a significant expansion in testing , `` we 're still encountering shortages , '' Murthy says .
`` Testing is still not available and affordable to all people across the country , he says .
The Biden campaign pledges to `` mobilize '' 100,000 Americans to work with local organizations around the country to perform contact tracing and other services that would help address unmet needs in populations at high risk for COVID-19 .
These workers would initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and would also shore up local health departments to address other pandemic needs , Murthy says .
`` We know that people are struggling , '' he says , and the idea is to empower local communities and local health departments to assist people with challenges such as food insecurity and affordable housing .
`` Imagine a public health workforce that was also helping train school officials in how to reopen safely , '' Murthy says .
Or helping run public education campaigns about a vaccine and how to stay safe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workforce that was diverse , that looked like the country that we 're trying to serve , '' Murthy says .
This investment would be paid for by increasing taxes on corporations and wealthier Americans .
Millions of American have lost health insurance during the pandemic .
Biden 's coronavirus plan proposes to have the federal government cover 100 % of the costs of COBRA coverage for the duration of the crisis .
`` So when people lose their employer-based health insurance , they can stay on that insurance , given the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' says Stef Feldman , Biden 's national policy director .
In addition , Biden would push to strengthen the Affordable Care Act .
`` That means expanding coverage , '' Murthy says , for instance by making more people eligible for premium subsidies .
Biden would also push for expansion of Medicaid in states that have still yet to do so , his advisers say , and he has proposed making Medicare coverage available to Americans beginning at age 60 ( instead of 65 ) .
During the pandemic , several governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal Obamacare marketplace for a special enrollment period .
`` One of the most immediate steps Vice President Biden would be able to take is to reopen open enrollment as needed so people who have lost insurance can sign up for new coverage , '' Feldman says , calling it `` a basic step that President Trump has refused to do . ''
During the pandemic , Biden says many families are struggling to find affordable care for their children , aging relatives or loved ones with disabilities .
`` At the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their jobs or continue to work while putting their lives at risk without sufficient pay , '' his campaign plan notes .
There are thousands of people who would like to receive care in their homes , who are covered by Medicaid , explains Murthy , but are on a waiting list that is as long as five years .
`` Vice President Biden would work with states to close that gap and make sure that we have Medicaid-funded , home-based care providers to care for our older loved ones , '' Murthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ steps to expand caregiving including ensuring access to preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds and also supporting caregivers through job training and improved benefits and protections .
The Biden campaign says these initiatives would cost $ 775 billion over 10 years and would be paid for , in part , by rolling back tax breaks on high earners .
Expanding opportunities in the female-dominated caregiving workforce would play a dual role in both helping families , and helping improve women 's employment outlook , explains Sherry Glied , who is dean of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Service , noting that this pandemic-fueled economic crisis has hit women harder .
`` This really gives us an opportunity to sort of address two policy objectives with one policy step , '' Glied says .
She is not an adviser to Biden , but has written a perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine on how policies to address the impact of COVID-19 could shift under a new president .
States will need a lot of money to distribute a vaccine and make sure it gets to everyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will require planning and resources .
For instance , states may need freezers to store their vaccines , and given how many people are hesitant to be vaccinated , they will need public education materials and guidance .
Currently state governors are asking for more guidance and financial assistance .
The Biden campaign proposes investing $ 25 billion in a vaccine manufacturing and distribution plan `` that will guarantee it gets to every American , cost-free . ''
The Biden campaign also wants to solve the PPE shortages that have plagued the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began , stating that it would produce more of these critical supplies , `` rather than leave states , cities , tribes , and territories to fend for themselves . ''
While Trump made limited use of the Defense Production Action to increase ventilator production , Biden says he 'd use it to increase production of masks , face shields and other personal protective equipment so that supply exceeds demand .

Coronavirus Is A Key Campaign Issue: What's Joe Biden's Plan?
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
As Election Day nears, the pandemic looms large. Amid a surge in new cases, the coronavirus has changed the way we live, work and — perhaps — how some Americans will vote.
As President Trump makes the case that his leadership has saved lives in the pandemic and ushered in record-fast vaccine and therapeutics development, Joe Biden has described Trump's handling of COVID-19 as "totally irresponsible" and points to American's health as the nation's top domestic issue.
Trump's approach to handling the pandemic is clear from his record. His administration has delegated much of the authority for the coronavirus response to states, including testing and contact tracing. He's invested heavily in vaccine development. He signed two coronavirus relief packages and has indicated he'd sign another one after the election.
But what would Biden do? Biden's campaign has a seven-point plan to beat COVID-19 and other proposals for health care and economic recovery that support that vision. NPR asked his advisers for details on his approach, which includes some familiar elements, as well as some less-expected ones.
1. Set consistent, evidence-based guidance to stop outbreaks
If Biden wins the election, "You would see an approach that's driven by science and by scientists," says physician Vivek Murthy, who is a key adviser to the Biden campaign on COVID-19.
And he'd focus on uniting states around some common practices, says Ezekiel Emanuel, a physician and University of Pennsylvania professor who has briefed Biden on health policy but has no formal campaign position. Instead of "different states doing different things, the goal would be to get all the states singing from the same hymnal," Emanuel says.
For instance, Biden's plan says it would direct the CDC to provide specific guidance — based on the degree of viral spread in a community — for when to open or close businesses and schools, when to impose restrictions on gathering sizes or when stay-home orders may be called for.
"Social distancing is not a light switch. It is a dial," the Biden campaign states in its plan. It would create a national "pandemic dashboard" to share this information. This is a strategy recommended by a top group of public health experts, who released a framework for assessing community risk.
And, Biden is calling on every American to wear a mask when they are close to people outside their household. He says he'd work with every governor to make this mandatory in their state. Many states already have mask mandates, but at a time when research suggests that universal masking could save more than 100,000 lives, there's currently no nationwide coordination or requirement.
2. Seriously ramp up testing
The Biden campaign says the goal is to "ensure that all Americans have access to regular, reliable and free testing." It would work to double the number of drive-through testing sites and invest in "next-generation testing" including home tests and instant tests.
"It's not enough to know in seven days or five days or three days whether or not you have COVID," Biden said on CBS' 60 Minutes. If there's a long lag time, a person may spread the disease unwittingly while waiting for results.
There are currently several home test kits that give quick results without being sent to a laboratory in development, but none are yet FDA-approved. While there has been a significant expansion in testing, "we're still encountering shortages," Murthy says. "Testing is still not available and affordable to all people across the country, he says.
3. Establish a U.S. public health jobs corps
The Biden campaign pledges to "mobilize" 100,000 Americans to work with local organizations around the country to perform contact tracing and other services that would help address unmet needs in populations at high risk for COVID-19.
These workers would initially help with contact tracing around the country, and would also shore up local health departments to address other pandemic needs, Murthy says. "We know that people are struggling," he says, and the idea is to empower local communities and local health departments to assist people with challenges such as food insecurity and affordable housing.
"Imagine a public health workforce that was also helping train school officials in how to reopen safely," Murthy says. Or helping run public education campaigns about a vaccine and how to stay safe in the pandemic. "Think about a workforce that was diverse, that looked like the country that we're trying to serve," Murthy says.
This investment would be paid for by increasing taxes on corporations and wealthier Americans.
4. Help people get health insurance
Millions of American have lost health insurance during the pandemic. Biden's coronavirus plan proposes to have the federal government cover 100% of the costs of COBRA coverage for the duration of the crisis. "So when people lose their employer-based health insurance, they can stay on that insurance, given the moment we are in and the pandemic," says Stef Feldman, Biden's national policy director.
In addition, Biden would push to strengthen the Affordable Care Act. "That means expanding coverage," Murthy says, for instance by making more people eligible for premium subsidies. Biden would also push for expansion of Medicaid in states that have still yet to do so, his advisers say, and he has proposed making Medicare coverage available to Americans beginning at age 60 (instead of 65).
During the pandemic, several governors asked the Trump administration to reopen the federal Obamacare marketplace for a special enrollment period.
"One of the most immediate steps Vice President Biden would be able to take is to reopen open enrollment as needed so people who have lost insurance can sign up for new coverage," Feldman says, calling it "a basic step that President Trump has refused to do."
5. Create a caregiving workforce
During the pandemic, Biden says many families are struggling to find affordable care for their children, aging relatives or loved ones with disabilities. "At the same time, professional caregivers have either lost their jobs or continue to work while putting their lives at risk without sufficient pay," his campaign plan notes.
There are thousands of people who would like to receive care in their homes, who are covered by Medicaid, explains Murthy, but are on a waiting list that is as long as five years. "Vice President Biden would work with states to close that gap and make sure that we have Medicaid-funded, home-based care providers to care for our older loved ones," Murthy says.
Biden supports a variety of steps to expand caregiving including ensuring access to preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds and also supporting caregivers through job training and improved benefits and protections. The Biden campaign says these initiatives would cost $775 billion over 10 years and would be paid for, in part, by rolling back tax breaks on high earners.
Expanding opportunities in the female-dominated caregiving workforce would play a dual role in both helping families, and helping improve women's employment outlook, explains Sherry Glied, who is dean of New York University's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, noting that this pandemic-fueled economic crisis has hit women harder.
"This really gives us an opportunity to sort of address two policy objectives with one policy step," Glied says. She is not an adviser to Biden, but has written a perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine on how policies to address the impact of COVID-19 could shift under a new president.
6. Bolster resources for vaccine distribution and PPE production
States will need a lot of money to distribute a vaccine and make sure it gets to everyone who wants it. There are complex logistics that will require planning and resources. For instance, states may need freezers to store their vaccines, and given how many people are hesitant to be vaccinated, they will need public education materials and guidance. Currently state governors are asking for more guidance and financial assistance.
The Biden campaign proposes investing $25 billion in a vaccine manufacturing and distribution plan "that will guarantee it gets to every American, cost-free."
The Biden campaign also wants to solve the PPE shortages that have plagued the U.S. health care system since the pandemic began, stating that it would produce more of these critical supplies, "rather than leave states, cities, tribes, and territories to fend for themselves."
While Trump made limited use of the Defense Production Act to increase ventilator production, Biden says he'd use it to increase production of masks, face shields and other personal protective equipment so that supply exceeds demand.


npr--2020-10-28--As COVID-19 Cases Surge In Illinois, A Clash Over Safety Guidelines

As COVID-19 Cases Surge In Illinois , A Clash Over Safety Guidelines As cold weather envelops Illinois , the state is experiencing a massive upsurge in coronavirus cases , part of a trend across Midwest states .
This week , the state has seen an average of 4,747 cases per day , double the cases in the state from three weeks ago .
On Wednesday , Illinois reported 6,110 cases and 51 deaths , the second-highest number of cases ever reported in a single day , Chicago 's ABC affiliate reported .
In response to the spike , on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of all indoor dining and bar service in the state 's largest city , Chicago , effective this Friday .
But some local leaders across the state are n't supportive of the new guidelines .
Public health administrator Sandra Martell has been threatened with lawsuits from bar owners who want to continue to offer indoor service in violation of the governor 's orders , reports NPR member station WITF 's Christine Herman on Morning Edition .
`` Our team spends more time having to do this than I really think that we would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources on , '' Martell said at a press conference this week , pleading with businesses to follow the state 's orders .
Similarly , Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike told Morning Edition host David Greene that her office would prefer `` to focus our energy on educating the public and getting the right data to them , but instead , we 're now dividing our efforts on two fronts , trying to combat people who are actively working against what will keep our community safe .
It 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she understands the desire to return to a pre-COVID world .
`` Unfortunately , the mixed messaging has not helped the public health cause at all , '' she said .
`` And the desire by people to believe in things which are comforting but not true is incredibly strong right now . ''
Ezike herself was overcome at a recent press briefing , when she began to cry as she reported new coronavirus deaths and thousands of additional cases .
Speaking to NPR , she said she was experiencing a combination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxiety .
`` It was a visceral reaction , '' she said .
Since the press conference , she 's heard from plenty of other people who feel the same way .
`` I guess I let something out for all of us , '' she said .
`` I 'm hoping that eventually , just with days , people understand that tomorrow still needs to be written and each of us gets to be an author and use our authorship to create a story not of continued doom , but of actually @ @ @ @ @ @

As COVID-19 Cases Surge In Illinois, A Clash Over Safety Guidelines
Enlarge this image toggle caption Justin L. Fowler/AP Justin L. Fowler/AP
As cold weather envelops Illinois, the state is experiencing a massive upsurge in coronavirus cases, part of a trend across Midwest states.
This week, the state has seen an average of 4,747 cases per day, double the cases in the state from three weeks ago. On Wednesday, Illinois reported 6,110 cases and 51 deaths, the second-highest number of cases ever reported in a single day, Chicago's ABC affiliate reported.
In response to the spike, on Tuesday Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the closing of all indoor dining and bar service in the state's largest city, Chicago, effective this Friday. But some local leaders across the state aren't supportive of the new guidelines.
Public health administrator Sandra Martell has been threatened with lawsuits from bar owners who want to continue to offer indoor service in violation of the governor's orders, reports NPR member station WITF's Christine Herman on Morning Edition.
National 2 Counties In Illinois Have Opposite Effects Controlling Pandemic 2 Counties In Illinois Have Opposite Effects Controlling Pandemic Listen · 2:24 2:24
"Our team spends more time having to do this than I really think that we would want to be spending our public health resources on," Martell said at a press conference this week, pleading with businesses to follow the state's orders.
Similarly, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike told Morning Edition host David Greene that her office would prefer "to focus our energy on educating the public and getting the right data to them, but instead, we're now dividing our efforts on two fronts, trying to combat people who are actively working against what will keep our community safe. It's a continuous struggle."
Ezike says she understands the desire to return to a pre-COVID world.
"Unfortunately, the mixed messaging has not helped the public health cause at all," she said. "And the desire by people to believe in things which are comforting but not true is incredibly strong right now."
Health Fighting COVID-19 Is A Struggle, Illinois' Public Health Director Says Fighting COVID-19 Is A Struggle, Illinois' Public Health Director Says Listen · 4:56 4:56
Ezike herself was overcome at a recent press briefing, when she began to cry as she reported new coronavirus deaths and thousands of additional cases. Speaking to NPR, she said she was experiencing a combination of pandemic fatigue, frustration, anger and anxiety.
"It was a visceral reaction," she said.
Since the press conference, she's heard from plenty of other people who feel the same way. "I guess I let something out for all of us," she said.
"I'm hoping that eventually, just with days, people understand that tomorrow still needs to be written and each of us gets to be an author and use our authorship to create a story not of continued doom, but of actually turning this pandemic around."


npr--2020-10-28--'No Excuse For The Looting': Biden, Trump Respond To Philadelphia Protests

'No Excuse For The Looting ' : Biden , Trump Respond To Philadelphia Protests When police fatally shot 27-year-old Walter Wallace in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon , the issue of police violence and how it disproportionately affects Black Americans was once again thrust into the spotlight .
Protests began nearly immediately after the news broke , with some instances of rioting as well as violence between demonstrators and the police .
In the final days of the presidential election , the two leading candidates in the race , President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden , have both focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looting as part of demonstrations against police brutality .
Speaking at an event in Paradise , Nev. , on Wednesday , Trump , a Republican , downplayed his moral opinion on the shooting itself , instead focusing his attention on the protests , which he said were the result of soft leadership from Democrats on the city and state level .
`` It 's a terrible thing .
What I 'm witnessing is terrible .
And , frankly , that the mayor , or whoever it is , that 's allowing people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also just a horrible thing , '' he said .
`` I saw the event — everybody did , it was on television — it was a terrible event .
I guess that 's being looked at very strongly .
We have federal — the federal government is looking at it also .
But the rioting in Philadelphia , you have to stop it .
They have to stop it .
It 's a local thing , as you know , '' Trump said , adding that he would readily send in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uprisings .
`` You got to have law and order .
You 've got to have respect for our police , '' he said , trotting out his long-favored talking point of a police system crippled by Democrat inaction .
Biden , the Democratic nominee , on Wednesday said that he would set up a commission to better deal with how police interact with people dealing with mental health issues , but he forcefully condemned any violence and looting during the protests .
`` There is no excuse whatsoever for the looting and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think to be able to protest is totally legitimate .
It 's totally reasonable .
But I think that the looting is just as the victim 's father said , 'Do not do this .
... You 're not helping .
You 're hurting .
You 're not helping my son , ' `` Biden , who has been accused by Republicans as being soft on crime , said to reporters after he cast his early ballot near his home in Wilmington , Del .
`` There are certain things we 're going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along .
... And that is how we deal with how you diminish the prospect of lethal shooting in circumstances like the one we saw .
That 's going to be part of the commission I set up to determine how we deal with these .
...
But there 's no excuse for the looting , '' he said .
Wallace 's death comes following a summer pockmarked by police shootings and nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality .
Both Trump and Biden have carved out stances on the matter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement and maintaining `` law and order , '' while Biden has acknowledged systemic racism in the United States and vowed if elected to more closely examine how to repair relationships between police and minority communities .
Speaking at a campaign event in Bullhead City , Ariz. , on Wednesday afternoon , Trump further sharpened his attack against the protests and connected the uprisings to Democrats .
`` Joe Biden has surrendered his party to the rage-filled socialists , Marxists and left-wing extremists .
And that 's what you 're going to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happen .
The Democrats have spent the entire year inciting violence , and hatred , and hatred against our police — our police .
Without our police , we have very little , '' Trump said , adopting a familiar dark , less nuanced tone with his supporters .
`` Last night , the city of Philadelphia was ransacked by violent mobs and Biden-supported people .
These were all Biden-supported people .
And he would n't even call them out .
This morning , they said 'please call them out . '
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he does n't want to lose the radical left , '' he continued .
`` Biden and [ Kamala ] Harris stand up , and they stand with the rioters and the vandals .
I stand with the heroes of law enforcement .
It took generations to build the America we know and love , but if the radical left gains power , it will take them only a short period of time to destroy it . ''

'No Excuse For The Looting': Biden, Trump Respond To Philadelphia Protests
Enlarge this image toggle caption Mark Makela/Getty Images Mark Makela/Getty Images
Updated at 5:02 p.m. ET
When police fatally shot 27-year-old Walter Wallace in Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, the issue of police violence and how it disproportionately affects Black Americans was once again thrust into the spotlight.
Protests began nearly immediately after the news broke, with some instances of rioting as well as violence between demonstrators and the police.
In the final days of the presidential election, the two leading candidates in the race, President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, have both focused most heavily on condemning any violence and looting as part of demonstrations against police brutality.
Speaking at an event in Paradise, Nev., on Wednesday, Trump, a Republican, downplayed his moral opinion on the shooting itself, instead focusing his attention on the protests, which he said were the result of soft leadership from Democrats on the city and state level.
"It's a terrible thing. What I'm witnessing is terrible. And, frankly, that the mayor, or whoever it is, that's allowing people to riot and loot and not stop them is also just a horrible thing," he said.
"I saw the event — everybody did, it was on television — it was a terrible event. I guess that's being looked at very strongly. We have federal — the federal government is looking at it also. But the rioting in Philadelphia, you have to stop it. They have to stop it. It's a local thing, as you know," Trump said, adding that he would readily send in federal law enforcement to suppress any violent uprisings.
"You got to have law and order. You've got to have respect for our police," he said, trotting out his long-favored talking point of a police system crippled by Democrat inaction.
Biden, the Democratic nominee, on Wednesday said that he would set up a commission to better deal with how police interact with people dealing with mental health issues, but he forcefully condemned any violence and looting during the protests.
"There is no excuse whatsoever for the looting and the violence. None whatsoever. I think to be able to protest is totally legitimate. It's totally reasonable. But I think that the looting is just as the victim's father said, 'Do not do this. ... You're not helping. You're hurting. You're not helping my son,' " Biden, who has been accused by Republicans as being soft on crime, said to reporters after he cast his early ballot near his home in Wilmington, Del.
"There are certain things we're going to have to do as we move along. ... And that is how we deal with how you diminish the prospect of lethal shooting in circumstances like the one we saw. That's going to be part of the commission I set up to determine how we deal with these. ... But there's no excuse for the looting," he said.
Wallace's death comes following a summer pockmarked by police shootings and nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
Both Trump and Biden have carved out stances on the matter, with Trump focusing his appeals to law enforcement and maintaining "law and order," while Biden has acknowledged systemic racism in the United States and vowed if elected to more closely examine how to repair relationships between police and minority communities.
Speaking at a campaign event in Bullhead City, Ariz., on Wednesday afternoon, Trump further sharpened his attack against the protests and connected the uprisings to Democrats.
"Joe Biden has surrendered his party to the rage-filled socialists, Marxists and left-wing extremists. And that's what you're going to have, and you can't let it happen. The Democrats have spent the entire year inciting violence, and hatred, and hatred against our police — our police. Without our police, we have very little," Trump said, adopting a familiar dark, less nuanced tone with his supporters.
"Last night, the city of Philadelphia was ransacked by violent mobs and Biden-supported people. These were all Biden-supported people. And he wouldn't even call them out. This morning, they said 'please call them out.' He doesn't want to get involved because he doesn't want to lose the radical left," he continued.
"Biden and [Kamala] Harris stand up, and they stand with the rioters and the vandals. I stand with the heroes of law enforcement. It took generations to build the America we know and love, but if the radical left gains power, it will take them only a short period of time to destroy it."


npr--2020-10-28--Minecraft Mock Poll Aims To Educate Kids About Voting

At the top of a hill sits a large white building with columns and draped with American flags .
It resembles the Capitol building in Washington , D.C. , except for a key difference .
It 's built out of Minecraft blocks .
The popular sandbox video game has been used to host graduation ceremonies , concerts , recreated school campuses and even a library of censored journalism .
And now it 's being used to teach young Americans how to vote .
Nonpartisan , nonprofit organization Rock the Vote and creative company Sid Lee teamed up to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 2020 election .
Dubbed `` Build The Vote , '' the simulation is designed to educate kids on the voting process and give them the chance to share their opinions on several issues .
The organization hopes to demystify the voting process , said Teja Foster , social media director for Rock The Vote .
That way , kids will be ready to vote when they 're old enough .
`` There 's no way for kids , before they get to the voting booth , to actually have a practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foster said .
`` It 's just , like , you turn 18 , and here 's your ballot . ''
Once a player joins the simulator , they can enter the large voting house and `` register '' to vote .
Along the way , there are checkpoints explaining different aspects of the voting process .
`` We just wanted to adapt what adults will go through but in a playful way , '' Sid Lee copywriter Nick Labbe said .
Next , the player enters a room with 10 issues laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They get to vote on topics including gun control , immigration , student loans and education .
The virtual voting house took three months to build , Labbe said .
It opened on Monday and will close Friday .
The voting results will be published before Election Day in the U.S .
Noticeably absent from the choices is a way to vote on who should win the 2020 presidential election .
Foster said that 's because the event is designed to talk issues , not politics .
`` We do n't direct anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we do is expose them to the issues that matter to them , '' Foster said .
At the end , instead of an `` I Voted '' sticker , players will have a chance to change their Minecraft character 's appearance to show they participated .
Rock The Vote is n't the only organization to pivot to using video games to reach young people during the pandemic .
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted one of the most popular video game streams last week when she played `` Among Us '' on Twitch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his campaign unveiled an Animal Crossing island and virtual campaign signs earlier this month .
`` When the pandemic hit it was kind of just like a stop , drop and roll , '' Foster said .
`` Every organization across the board was trying to figure out ways to expand on their digital footprint . ''
Minecraft , which was first released 11 years ago , recently reported 131 million monthly players .
Since the start of the pandemic , the game saw a 90 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rock The Vote plans to continue to use Minecraft to engage future voters , Foster added , even when the organization can again host in-person events .
For Rock The Vote , it was about meeting people where they already are , Foster said .
And it turns out they 're on Minecraft .

Minecraft Mock Poll Aims To Educate Kids About Voting
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rock The Vote Rock The Vote
At the top of a hill sits a large white building with columns and draped with American flags. It resembles the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., except for a key difference.
It's built out of Minecraft blocks.
The popular sandbox video game has been used to host graduation ceremonies, concerts, recreated school campuses and even a library of censored journalism.
And now it's being used to teach young Americans how to vote.
Nonpartisan, nonprofit organization Rock the Vote and creative company Sid Lee teamed up to create a Minecraft "voting house" server ahead of the 2020 election.
Dubbed "Build The Vote," the simulation is designed to educate kids on the voting process and give them the chance to share their opinions on several issues.
The organization hopes to demystify the voting process, said Teja Foster, social media director for Rock The Vote. That way, kids will be ready to vote when they're old enough.
"There's no way for kids, before they get to the voting booth, to actually have a practice round and understand the process," Foster said. "It's just, like, you turn 18, and here's your ballot."
Once a player joins the simulator, they can enter the large voting house and "register" to vote. Along the way, there are checkpoints explaining different aspects of the voting process.
"We just wanted to adapt what adults will go through but in a playful way," Sid Lee copywriter Nick Labbe said.
Next, the player enters a room with 10 issues laid out for them to vote on. They get to vote on topics including gun control, immigration, student loans and education.
The virtual voting house took three months to build, Labbe said.
It opened on Monday and will close Friday. The voting results will be published before Election Day in the U.S.
Noticeably absent from the choices is a way to vote on who should win the 2020 presidential election. Foster said that's because the event is designed to talk issues, not politics.
"We don't direct anyone to vote for anyone in particular but what we do is expose them to the issues that matter to them," Foster said.
At the end, instead of an "I Voted" sticker, players will have a chance to change their Minecraft character's appearance to show they participated.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Rock The Vote Rock The Vote
Rock The Vote isn't the only organization to pivot to using video games to reach young people during the pandemic.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hosted one of the most popular video game streams last week when she played "Among Us" on Twitch, garnering more than 400,000 views.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his campaign unveiled an Animal Crossing island and virtual campaign signs earlier this month.
"When the pandemic hit it was kind of just like a stop, drop and roll," Foster said. "Every organization across the board was trying to figure out ways to expand on their digital footprint."
Minecraft, which was first released 11 years ago, recently reported 131 million monthly players. Since the start of the pandemic, the game saw a 90% increase in multiplayer sessions.
Moving forward, Rock The Vote plans to continue to use Minecraft to engage future voters, Foster added, even when the organization can again host in-person events.
For Rock The Vote, it was about meeting people where they already are, Foster said.
And it turns out they're on Minecraft.


npr--2020-10-28--Joe Biden Votes Early In Wilmington, Del.

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife , Jill Biden , joined the nearly 75 million voters who have cast their ballots early .
The former vice president voted at the Carvel State Office Building in his hometown of Wilmington , Del.
, after delivering remarks about protecting the Affordable Care Act .
After voting , Biden spoke to reporters about his plans on health care , saying he thinks he 'll be able to work with Republicans .
`` I do have a proposal that relates to how we can improve the Affordable Care Act beyond what it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] and I wanted to do at the time to add a public option , allowing people to keep their private insurance , if that 's what they want to do , making it more affordable to get a better plan , '' Biden said .
President Trump voted early on Saturday at a library in Florida 's Palm Beach County .
He told reporters he `` voted for a guy named Trump . ''
According to the U.S .
Elections Project , a turnout-tracking database run by University of Florida professor Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 54 % of the total votes counted in the 2016 election .

Joe Biden Votes Early In Wilmington, Del.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, joined the nearly 75 million voters who have cast their ballots early.
The former vice president voted at the Carvel State Office Building in his hometown of Wilmington, Del., after delivering remarks about protecting the Affordable Care Act.
After voting, Biden spoke to reporters about his plans on health care, saying he thinks he'll be able to work with Republicans.
"I do have a proposal that relates to how we can improve the Affordable Care Act beyond what it was before, which Barack [Obama] and I wanted to do at the time to add a public option, allowing people to keep their private insurance, if that's what they want to do, making it more affordable to get a better plan," Biden said.
President Trump voted early on Saturday at a library in Florida's Palm Beach County.
He told reporters he "voted for a guy named Trump."
According to the U.S. Elections Project, a turnout-tracking database run by University of Florida professor Michael McDonald, voters have already cast more than 54% of the total votes counted in the 2016 election.


npr--2020-10-28--Congressman Calls For Federal Crackdown On Unproven Coronavirus Treatment

A member of Congress , who has led efforts to investigate alleged coronavirus scams , is calling for the federal government to crack down on an unproven treatment for COVID-19 .
Widespread sales of that purported treatment - a drug known as thymosin alpha-1 - were first identified by an NPR investigation earlier this month .
More than 30 doctors in more than a dozen states around the country have marketed the drug as a treatment for the coronavirus , despite the fact that it has never been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any condition and such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FDA , `` not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence . ''
The congressman , Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi ( D-Ill. ) , leads the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy .
He is now calling for the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission to take action against one prominent doctor who has marketed the drug : Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read of Los Angeles .
Fradin-Read is known for her work with the actor Gwyneth Paltrow 's wellness brand Goop .
Fradin-Read helped formulate a dietary supplement called `` Madame Ovary '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the practice VitaLifeMD , and had falsely marketed thymosin alpha-1 as an `` FDA approved '' drug , which she claimed was `` one of the best ways to prevent and fight COVID-19 . ''
`` Such false claims appear to be illegal and ought to be subject to strict enforcement by FDA and FTC , '' Krishnamoorthi wrote in his letter to the leaders of those agencies .
`` I ask you to open an investigation into VitaLifeMD , and to take all appropriate action against VitaLifeMD and its principals . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ NPR for this story .
But she has previously defended prescriptions of the drug , saying she had prescribed it to members of her staff , her mother , and had even taken it herself without any negative effects .
The FTC and FDA are responsible for enforcing laws against false and misleading advertising .
A spokesperson for the FTC declined to comment , and the FDA did not respond to a message NPR .
Earlier on in the pandemic , Krishnamoorthi called on the Trump Administration to take action against conspiracy theorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silver-infused toothpastes as a supposed COVID-19 prevention measure .
( The National Institutes of Health say colloidal silver is not safe or effective for treating any condition , and can even permanently turn a person 's skin blue at high doses . )
The FDA then warned Jones that such claims were misleading and could violate federal law .
Krishnamoorthi 's current letter faults the Trump Administration for failing to effectively deter scams that prey on people 's fears , calling the government 's enforcement thus far `` piecemeal . ''
`` Amid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Krishnamoorthi wrote , `` we can not allow unscrupulous manufacturers and providers to deceive consumers into purchasing expensive , ineffective , and potentially dangerous 'miracle cures . '
''

Congressman Calls For Federal Crackdown On Unproven Coronavirus Treatment
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tom Williams/AFP via Getty Images Tom Williams/AFP via Getty Images
A member of Congress, who has led efforts to investigate alleged coronavirus scams, is calling for the federal government to crack down on an unproven treatment for COVID-19. Widespread sales of that purported treatment - a drug known as thymosin alpha-1 - were first identified by an NPR investigation earlier this month. More than 30 doctors in more than a dozen states around the country have marketed the drug as a treatment for the coronavirus, despite the fact that it has never been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for any condition and such claims are, in the words of the FDA, "not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence."
The congressman, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), leads the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy. He is now calling for the FDA and the Federal Trade Commission to take action against one prominent doctor who has marketed the drug: Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read of Los Angeles.
Fradin-Read is known for her work with the actor Gwyneth Paltrow's wellness brand Goop. Fradin-Read helped formulate a dietary supplement called "Madame Ovary" for the brand. She also runs the practice VitaLifeMD, and had falsely marketed thymosin alpha-1 as an "FDA approved" drug, which she claimed was "one of the best ways to prevent and fight COVID-19."
"Such false claims appear to be illegal and ought to be subject to strict enforcement by FDA and FTC," Krishnamoorthi wrote in his letter to the leaders of those agencies. "I ask you to open an investigation into VitaLifeMD, and to take all appropriate action against VitaLifeMD and its principals."
Fradin-Read did not respond to messages from NPR for this story. But she has previously defended prescriptions of the drug, saying she had prescribed it to members of her staff, her mother, and had even taken it herself without any negative effects.
The FTC and FDA are responsible for enforcing laws against false and misleading advertising. A spokesperson for the FTC declined to comment, and the FDA did not respond to a message NPR.
Earlier on in the pandemic, Krishnamoorthi called on the Trump Administration to take action against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of InfoWars for marketing colloidal silver-infused toothpastes as a supposed COVID-19 prevention measure. (The National Institutes of Health say colloidal silver is not safe or effective for treating any condition, and can even permanently turn a person's skin blue at high doses.) The FDA then warned Jones that such claims were misleading and could violate federal law.
Krishnamoorthi's current letter faults the Trump Administration for failing to effectively deter scams that prey on people's fears, calling the government's enforcement thus far "piecemeal."
"Amid an unprecedented public health and economic crisis," Krishnamoorthi wrote, "we cannot allow unscrupulous manufacturers and providers to deceive consumers into purchasing expensive, ineffective, and potentially dangerous 'miracle cures.'"