How to Safely Vote in Person in the 2020 Elections

The most obvious way to stay healthy during this electoral cycle in the middle of a pandemic and still continue voting is to request that the ballot be mailed and avoid public polling stations altogether. But Donald Trump’s recent attempts to cast (unfounded) doubts about the credibility and safety of mail-order voting , not to mention the confusion that does not contribute to the reputation of the process , means the best way to ensure that your vote is counted – and counted in an election. night – vote in person.

And if you’re going to vote in person this year, it’s important to take certain precautions to protect yourself and others.

CDC and the Brennan Justice Center have compiled guidelines to help election officials and election officials create and maintain safe places for personal voting, with recommendations ranging from extended working hours and improved ventilation systems to plexiglass barriers at registration, marked with intervals of sidewalks for waiting in line and frequent disinfection of cars.

Beyond that, however, individual voters should do whatever they can to stay healthy when going to the polls. Here are some tips that experts recommend:

• Wear a mask all the time while you wait in line, register and vote.
• Stay six feet from polling station workers and other voters, even if there is no designated distance.
• Use hand sanitizer after touching any common surfaces, including the voting device. Do not wipe the machines yourself.
• Wash your hands before arriving and after leaving the polling station.
• If possible, do not take anyone with you who does not vote. Leave your at-risk children or family members at home.
• Walk during off-peak hours whenever possible . Depending on where you live, the lines can be long throughout the day, but it is often quieter in the middle of the morning. If your state offers early voting, try to arrive before Election Day.
• If you have time, keep an eye on the line from the car and jump in when it gets shorter.
• Be Prepared: Check your voter registration and polling station location and a few hours before, bring your black pen, fill out all the required forms in advance, and know your ballot so you can fill it out quickly.
• If you get sick, contact your local electoral commission about alternatives such as sideways voting or dedicated voting places.

Finally, if you are healthy and capable, consider signing up for a survey . This could reduce the burden on older people at increased risk of COVID-19. In addition, more polling staff means more staffed polling stations, better voter safety management, and possibly more polling places that remain open on election day (for fewer people and shorter queues). It was originally published in August 2020 and updated in September 2020 to reflect the most recent information and guidance.