Former President Barack Obama strongly denounced the Wisconsin state-wide elections, which went ahead this week despite concerns about spreading the deadly COVID-19 virus.

Obama said the pandemic should lead Americans to embrace vote-by-mail options.

“No one should be forced to choose between their right to vote and their right to stay healthy like the debacle in Wisconsin this week,” he said in a Friday Twitter thread. “Everyone should have the right to vote safely, and we have the power to make that happen. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue.

“Let’s not use the tragedy of a pandemic to compromise our democracy. Check the facts of vote-by-mail,” he added.

Though the state’s Democratic governor Tony Evers did his best to stop it, Republicans in the state legislature refused any delays, or a statewide mail-in vote.

“Hundreds of thousands of workers are going to their jobs every day, serving in essential roles in our society. There’s no question that an election is just as important as getting take-out food,” House Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a joint statement at the time.

Wisconsin residents were voting in the Democratic presidential primary and on a key state Supreme Court seat.

Despite long lines at the polls, turnout was down 16% from the same time in 2016 according to unofficial numbers released by the Madison, Wisc. clerk’s office.