As anxiety mounts over underfunding for the U.S. Postal Service ahead of a presidential election that’s likely to depend on mail-in ballots, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is urging state lawmakers to approve funding for new election protection measures.

Virginia lawmakers have reconvened in Richmond this week for a special session to address a $234 million revenue shortfall caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, among other pressing issues. Northam addressed state senators and delegates Tuesday morning during a joint meeting of the General Assembly’s three money committees: Senate Finance and Appropriations, House Appropriations, and House Finance.

“Voting is fundamental to our democracy,” Northam said. “Now, we need to help people vote safely.”

The governor is proposing three measures he says will bolster voter safety and access during the pandemic:

• A budget allocation of $2 million for prepaid postage on all absentee ballots distributed for the general election in November
• Allow localities to use ballot drop boxes or designate drop off locations for Virginians who vote absentee
• Enable Virginians to correct errors on absentee ballots. Under current law, Virginians can’t fix errors on ballots they’ve already sent in. The governor’s office says many residents will vote absentee for the first time this fall, and the language “will help ensure [their] votes are counted.”

Unlike D.C., which plans to send every registered voter a ballot in the mail, Virginia isn’t automatically sending ballots to voters ahead of the Nov. 3 election. But any voter in the state can request an absentee ballot. Previously, voters had to provide a reason to vote absentee.

However, first-time voters may not be able to vote by mail in November. Election officials recommend first-time voters check with their local registrar to find out if they are eligible to vote absentee.

The commonwealth also begins “in-person absentee voting” — effectively early voting — starting Sept. 18.

Lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposals during the special session, which could last up to two weeks. Northam pressed representatives to quickly pass the measures as the Virginia Department of Elections prepares to begin sending out ballots in four weeks.

Northam also attempted to reassure voters and lawmakers on Tuesday that absentee ballots will be counted like any other ballot, despite rhetoric from President Donald Trump about the unreliability of mail-in voting.

“To be clear, voting will be safe and secure in Virginia,” Northam said. “Virginia will take every action necessary to protect the vote.”