Iran Offers Partial Strait of Hormuz Access Amid U.S. Peace Talks 
U.S. Signals Opposition to Bachelet's UN Secretary-General Bid 
Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine, Killing Three Including a Child 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
South Korea Denies U.S. Intelligence Restrictions Over North Korea Nuclear Site Disclosure 
U.S. and Philippines to Build 4,000-Acre Tech Hub Under Pax Silica Initiative 
Trump Administration Moves to Deport Iranian Academic Yousof Azizi Over Alleged Visa Fraud 
Justice Jackson Slams Supreme Court's Growing Use of Shadow Docket 
China Navigates Diplomatic Tightrope Between Iran Peace Efforts and Trump Summit 
Brazil's Former Intelligence Chief Alexandre Ramagem Released from U.S. Immigration Custody 
Chile's Kast Unveils 40-Point Economic Reform Package to Boost Growth 
ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to Exit Federal Government at End of May 
U.S.-Iran War Talks Resume Amid Economic Pressure and Ceasefire Uncertainty 
Iran-Lebanon War: Ceasefire Reached as U.S. and Iran Edge Closer to Nuclear Deal 
Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine, Killing Civilians 
U.S. Senate Blocks Resolutions to Halt $450 Million Weapons Sale to Israel 
Former first lady Michelle Obama is now throwing her support behind Democratic legislation that would give voters access to early voting and mail-in voting options. With the coronavirus still spreading across the country, these options are among the safest options for voters so they can continue to exercise their rights without potentially exposing themselves to the pathogen.
“Americans should never have to choose between making their voices heard and keeping themselves and their families safe,” Michelle Obama said in a statement, according to CNN. “Expanding access to vote-by-mail, online voter registration and early voting are critical steps for this moment -- and they're long overdue.”
The U.S. is in the midst of a health crisis as tens of thousands of new COVID-19 cases are reported each day. The country has the highest number of coronavirus cases in the world with over 560,000 confirmed infections as of April 13, according to Worldometers.
To protect voters from the risk of contracting the virus, Democrats have been pushing to expand early and mail-in voting options. These practices would also be in line with the social distancing practice encouraged by health experts in an effort to flatten the coronavirus growth curve.
However, some Republicans remain opposed to expanding the practice. President Donald Trump “has repeatedly dismissed the notion of a nationwide vote-by-mail system” over fears that the practice might be exploited and would be the “source of widespread voter fraud.”
Michelle Obama released her statement via the nonpartisan organization she co-chairs called When We All Vote. The former FLOTUS argued that “there is nothing partisan about striving to live up to the promise of our country; making the democracy we all cherish more accessible; and protecting our neighbors, friends and loved ones as they participate in this cornerstone of American life.”
Earlier, Michelle Obama criticized Wisconsin’s decision to push for in-person voting to commence for the state’s Democratic primary. “Today, Wisconsin voters had to choose between making their voice heard and keeping themselves and their family safe. No American should ever have to make that choice,” the former FLOTUS tweeted on April 8. “We must do better to ensure voting is safe for all voters. The latest Wisconsin voting information is below.”
