The Milwaukee Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to create a program under which all of the city's approximately 300,000 registered voters would receive an application for an absentee ballot in the mail.

The "SafeVote" program also provides voters with a postage-paid return envelope so they can participate in the fall election.

The measure was proposed by new Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic and passed at her first meeting on the Common Council.

The resolution notes thousands of people turned out to vote in person earlier this month in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic that has caused government officials to limit the number of people who can gather under other circumstances. In Milwaukee, some residents reported waiting in line for more than two hours to cast their ballots at the city's five in-person polling locations.

"The spectacle of thousands of citizens gathering to vote in the spring 2020 general election, while in a way inspiring, was an unacceptable danger to their own well-being and that of others and must not be repeated," the resolution states.

It states that voting by mail under the circumstances "must be seen as the best way to ensure the best possible participation in a vital election."

Voters will cast ballots in the November election for U.S. president in addition to partisan legislative and county offices.

Dimitrijevic previously told the Journal Sentinel that she hopes the system will be in place for the August primary, as well.

The measure requires Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Neil Albrecht to create the program within 30 days of the effective date of the resolution.

Mayor Tom Barrett previously told the Journal Sentinel that he supports the measure and he thought federal coronavirus aid money could fund the program instead of property taxpayers.

The measure also has the support of Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.

Journal Sentinel reporter Mary Spicuzza contributed to this story.

Contact Alison Dirr at 414-224-2383 or adirr@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter @AlisonDirr.