Voters in three states, Arizona, Florida and Illinois, went to the polls Tuesday to vote in primary elections. Two other states, Georgia and Louisiana, delayed their elections and Ohio’s governor barred Tuesday’s election from going forward. In the midst of a growing COVID-19 outbreak, how do we exercise our right to vote while keeping voters, poll workers, and the rest of us safe? We vote from home.

Elections are the lifeblood of our democracy and we must do everything we can to protect them. Yet, the White House is now recommending that people do not gather in groups of 10 or more and the CDC tells us that we should all stay six feet apart. These are important measures to flatten the curve and keep our health care system from being overloaded as we try to head off a serious shortage of hospital beds and ventilators in the not too distant future.

Following public health recommendations could mean delaying more elections, and obviously, in the near term the pandemic is likely to continue to spread. With the number of novel coronavirus cases mounting daily, it’s hard to imagine that there will be a great time in the near future to reschedule.

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In 2020, nearly a quarter of the electorate will be 65 or older. And, most of our poll workers are over 60. These are the groups most at risk of serious complications or even death, if they contract COVID-19.

People should not have to put themselves, their families, and their communities at risk to cast their vote. And they don’t have to. Proponents of vote at home have been shouting from the rooftops for decades that voting from home allows all of us, and especially the most vulnerable among us, to cast our votes no matter how difficult it is for us to get to the polls. Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Hawaii all successfully hold their elections entirely by mail. California also permits extensive voting at home.

You may have heard that we have an important election coming up in November. And nearly half the states have presidential primaries scheduled between now and then. We must act now so that people can safely go to the polls. That’s why Congress must immediately pass legislation to allow people to vote at home.

Fortunately, last week Sens. Ron Wyden Ronald (Ron) Lee WydenGOP senator blocks Schumer resolution aimed at Biden probe as tensions run high Republican Senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal Hillicon Valley: TikTok, Oracle seek Trump's approval as clock winds down | Hackers arrested for allegedly defacing U.S. websites after death of Iranian general | 400K people register to vote on Snapchat MORE (D-Ore.) and Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill EPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE (D-Minn.), as well as Reps. Earl Blumenauer Earl BlumenauerAhead of a coronavirus vaccine, Mexico's drug pricing to have far-reaching impacts on Americans Trump threatens to double down on Portland in other major cities Federal agents deployed to Portland did not have training in riot control: NYT MORE (D-Ore.), Suzan DelBene Suzan Kay DelBeneDemocrats say affordable housing would be a top priority in a Biden administration On The Money: McConnell not certain about fifth coronavirus package | States expected to roll out unemployment boost in late August | Navarro blasts 'stupid' Kodak execs On The Money: Economists flabbergasted after Congress leaves with no deal | Markets rise as the economy struggles | Retail sales slow in July MORE (D-Wash.), and Jamie Raskin Jamin (Jamie) Ben RaskinShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' Trump payroll-tax deferral for federal workers sparks backlash Congress must enact a plan to keep government workers safe MORE (D-Md.) introduced legislation that will allow people to vote at home in the event of widespread quarantines, other COVID-19-related emergencies, or natural disasters. This legislation authorizes $500 million in grants to states to cover postage and related costs. As Congress moves its coronavirus response packages forward, vote at home should be part of the essential relief provided to the American public.

In the midst of a pandemic, vote at home is clearly the answer to upholding the basic democratic value of the right to vote. This solution will protect both the right to vote and our public health--a win-win that saves our democracy and saves lives.

Liz Watson is the executive director of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center. She is the former labor policy director of the House Education and Labor Committee and a former Democratic nominee for Congress in Indiana’s 9th District.