Michelle Obama Urges In-Person Voting After Democrats Argued It Posed a Dire Threat

Former first lady Michelle Obama said Americans should vote "in person if we can" in her speech Monday night at the Democratic National Convention, marking a departure from Democrats' approach to in-person voting.

"We've got to request our mail-in ballots right now, tonight, and send them back immediately and follow up to make sure they're received, and then make sure our friends and families do the same," Obama said.

Her remarks come after Democratic leaders warned in the midst of several primary contests this spring that in-person voting would lead to outbreaks of the coronavirus. Democrats pushed unsuccessfully to extend voting in the Wisconsin primary, which took place in early April, arguing the coronavirus posed a threat to voters who visit the polls.

After the Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Wisconsin Democrats, DNC chairman Tom Perez said the election was a "dark day" for American democracy.

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