Democrats pushing harder for 'Vote by mail' in November election

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she would like to see "vote by mail" funding of up to $4 billion in Congress' next coronavirus stimulus package for upcoming elections.

Pelosi suggested on Wednesday that the funding would to help states "expand" their vote-by-mail capabilities and allow voters to cast ballots by mail rather than show up in-person at the polls. 

"Vote-by-mail is so important to our democracy so that people have access to voting and not being deterred, especially at this time, by the ammunition to stay home," Pelosi said on a conference call. "We need at least $2 billion, $4 billion is probably what would really democratize our whole system."

On Tuesday, Pelosi said she does not know why anyone would oppose voting by mail in the next election.

“In terms of the elections, I think that we’ll probably be moving to vote by mail,” Pelosi said on MSNBC. "The integrity of the election system is central to our democracy. I don't know how anyone could oppose our enabling the states to have vote by mail."

House Democrats have said the fourth coronavirus stimulus package should also include infrastructure upgrades, expansion of broadband access as well as payments toward residents' utility bills.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) applauded Pelosi for focusing on vote by mail due to coronavirus.

"Voting needs to be accessible and safe for Americans during this pandemic. Period. Thank you @SpeakerPelosi for supporting #VoteByMail," she wrote on Twitter Wednesday. "I am working to pass my bill to guarantee this voting option to all Americans."