Center for Disabilities Studies

The Delaware GOP has filed a lawsuit to stop vote-by-mail in Delaware’s general election, which was authorized by legislation signed into law last month, on the grounds it is unconstitutional and redundant. The GOP state chairperson says that anyone wishing to vote remotely can request an absentee ballot; however, Delaware only authorizes absentee voting in several specific circumstances. The lawsuit cites allegations of fraud in other states, despite evidence that voter fraud in Delaware and the U.S. is rare.

In the face of multiple lawsuits from Democratic state attorneys general, including one suit joined by Delaware’s Kathy Jennings, the U.S. Postmaster General delayed implementing changes in mail procedure that might have caused general election mail-in ballots to go uncounted. President Trump and Republican lawmakers have recently alleged vote-by-mail favors Democratic candidates and leads to voter fraud.

More than 2,000 students, educators, administrators and school staff have tested positive for Covid-19 since early July and teachers have died in Mississippi, Alabama and California, according to a crowd-sourced project tracking media reports of coronavirus in schools. The U.S. Department of Education is not publicly tracking Covid-19 cases, deaths, students quarantined or school closures.

Legal advocates for students receiving special education services and their parents are expressing concern that assumptions and misleading information about Covid-19-related changes to school procedures may negatively impact the quality of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). They urge parents to request IEP meetings and address students’ specific health needs to avoid contagion as well as academics, life skills and transition planning.

Companies that maintain long-term care facilities are hiring retired Republican congresspeople and departed White House staff to secure federal money and protections for the industry. One priority is legislation that would establish immunity from negligence suits brought by relatives of residents who died. Already the Trump administration has lifted certain tax burdens for nursing home companies, while $7.6 billion in grants has been awarded from Covid relief funds.