Editor's note

With social distancing guidelines likely to last for months – if not years – Americans will have to figure out new ways to conduct elections safely. That probably means mail-in ballots.

Constitutional law scholar Steven Mulroy lays out which states are all set, which are close to ready and which ones may need to change their rules or laws.

Also today:

Jeff Inglis

Politics + Society Editor

Top story

Wisconsin voters had to wait in line in April, wearing masks, because they could not vote by mail. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Some states more ready for mail-in voting than others

Steven Mulroy, University of Memphis

In many states, any voter can ask for an absentee ballot and mail it in – but in others, there are stricter rules about who can vote by mail.

Politics + Society

Ethics + Religion

  • Catholic Church urges Venezuela to unite against coronavirus

    David Smilde, Tulane University; Hugo Pérez Hernáiz, Universidad Central de Venezuela

    If anyone can convince the Maduro government and the Venezuelan opposition to come together to fight COVID-19, it's the Pope. But the Church's power to negotiate an emergency deal is limited.

Science + Technology

Environment + Energy

Arts + Culture

Economy + Business

  • 3 innovations helping the homeless in Eugene, Oregon

    Mohamed Hassan Awad, California State University, Los Angeles

    Nonprofits and concerned residents are teaming up with the local government to solve a daunting problem in a city with the nation's highest per-capita rate of homelessnesss.

  • Lead with empathy during the COVID-19 crisis

    Leslie Hammer, Oregon Health & Science University; Lindsey Alley, Oregon Health & Science University

    The coronavirus pandemic is a stressful time for everyone. Here are some ways employers can help their employees through this crisis.

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