WASHINGTON — Democrats want to bolster mail-in voting and take other steps to make balloting easier this November in the next round of congressional efforts to revive the economy and battle the coronavirus pandemic, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday.

Pelosi’s still-evolving proposals drew immediate condemnation from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, echoing President Donald Trump’s opposition to federal attempts to prod states to relax restrictions for this fall’s presidential and congressional elections.

The discord underscored that a partisan battle over voting restrictions could complicate Congress’ next attempt to prop up the stalled economy and deluged health care providers.

The virus’ continued threat has prompted worries that in-person balloting could be hazardous. Residents of much of the country are under orders to stay home and avoid crowds to slow the disease’s spread.

“Why should we be saying to people, ‘Stand in line for hours,’ when we don’t even want you leaving the house?” Pelosi told reporters.

Democrats also want extended registration periods and additional money to help states expand voting systems. Pelosi didn’t specify an amount to reporters Thursday, but suggested $2 billion in a conference call this week with House Democrats, said a Democratic aide who described the conversation on condition of anonymity.

In a separate call, McCarthy told reporters he saw no reason to change election law now. Citing the widespread illness, death and unemployment stemming from the virus, he accused Pelosi of trying to leverage the pandemic to advance her party’s agenda.

“You want to hold a bill up because you want to change election law in November, that somehow you think that gives you benefit? That’s disgusting,” he said.

Like Trump, McCarthy suggested that voting by mail would be subject to fraud. Experts have said vote fraud of any type is extremely rare.

Trump has warned that Republicans would “never” be elected again if Democrats succeeded in broadening mail-in and absentee voting.

Republicans are “afraid of the voice of the people,” Pelosi said. “And that’s one of the reasons they want to stand in the way of a more open democratic system at a time of a pandemic.”

Republicans have also argued that the federal government should not interfere with state election laws.

The battle is expected to be waged mostly on a sweeping bill — at least weeks away — that would build on the $2.2 trillion package enacted last month. It is funneling $2.2 trillion to large and small businesses, most individuals, state and local governments and the health care system.