Democrats shift their mail voting message: From the Politics Desk

Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.In today’s edition, Jane C.Timm and Natasha Korecki explore how Democrats are pushing early and in-person voting amid mail ballot concerns.

Plus, Kristen Welker examines whether the GOP’s midterm convention can help the party solve a key dilemma this fall.— Adam WollnerDemocrats shift their mail voting messageBy Jane C.

Timm and Natasha KoreckiDemocrats and progressive groups are urging voters to cast their ballots as early as possible — and increasingly, in person — amid concerns that President Donald Trump’s intervention and postal delays could disrupt the mail voting process this fall.Less than eight weeks from Election Day, the legal fate of an executive order from Trump that would restrict mail voting remains unclear, with a ruling from the Supreme Court over whether it can be implemented expected soon.Aside from the order, budget issues and operational changes to the U.S.

Postal Service have slowed mail delivery.Since the Covid pandemic, Democrats in particular have championed mail voting, which their voters have relied on more than Republicans’ in recent elections.But ahead of the midterms, with control of the House and Senate up for grabs, they have pumped the brakes on that message.“State parties traditionally really pushed two key messages when it came to voting: Vote on Election Day or vote by mail.And when we talked about voting by mail, it was, ‘Get your ballot back by Election Day,’” said Jane Kleeb, who chairs the Association of State Democratic Committees and serves as a Democratic National Committee vice chair.

“This time around, we are really pushing people … to say, ‘Vote early in person.Go to your county election office and vote early in person.’ And that this is the best way that we can get Democrats elected is if you vote ea...