A 'safe and clean' election

TIFFIN — Officials across the state will take many extra precautions to ensure a safe and clean — figuratively and literally — voting process on Election Day, Nov. 3. "Each polling location will have its own supplies of cleaning materials and personal protective equipment, and all poll workers received instructions, either in-person or online, regarding cleaning and social distancing protocols," said Adrienne James, the Erie County elections board's deputy director. But what exactly are those protocols? Ohio's secretary of state office issued many rules staff, poll workers, elections officials and voters must follow to ensure a smooth day. Note: These rules also apply to in-person early voting. Following health guidelines • Workers who don't feel well, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or have a temperature over 100.4 degrees can't work the polls and require a replacement. • All precinct election officials must wear personal protective equipment. This includes a face mask or face shield. Some exceptions, for medical reasons, could allow a worker to not wear one of these items. • At every precinct, there will be at least one bag containing hand sanitizer, masks, alcohol wipes, disinfectant wipes, measuring tape, tissue boxes bright green tape and face shields. • Officials must wash their hands frequently throughout the day. • Workers can't eat in group settings. Cleaning and disinfecting • Officials must work as a team to properly and safely disinfect election equipment throughout the day. This would include poll pads, stylus pens, pens, tables, door handles and more. • The iPad stylus pens must be disinfected after each person touches them as this is the main component that will be handled by the public when people vote. Masking up? • Officials must encourage all voters to wear a mask while present inside the polling location. But, even with the Ohio Department of Health order currently in effect, voters are not required to wear a mask in order to vote in person. Keep in mind: All eligible voters must be permitted to vote. • If a voter refuses to wear a mask inside the polling location, precinct election officials should offer this person the option of performing curbside voting. If the voter refuses curbside voting, this person must still be permitted to vote. • Cloth masks are appropriate for voters and precinct election officials. N95 medical-grade masks are not required for work within the polling location. • If any conflicts should arise, poll workers should try to de-escalate the situation or seek assistance from another precinct election official. Some suggestions include: — Speaking in a calm voice — Avoiding to engage in underlying issues that may factor into the objection — Reminding the voter that he or she is permitted to vote and that wearing a mask can help protect others in terms of health and safety — Informing the voting location manager or a supervisor if de-escalation fails — Contacting law enforcement if a precinct election official or election official feels the safety of any person is in jeopardy • If an observer refuses to wear a mask, they must be positioned at least 6 feet away from anyone else. Laying out the locations • If possible, have voters move in one linear direction when entering and voting so there is no retracing of steps. • Social distancing is required: A roll of bright green tape and tape measure is included in the aforementioned personal protective equipment bags so people can follow social distancing guidelines. — With the green tape, mark on the ground where the line would be for voters to stand. Make an "X" 6 feet apart, or as far as practicable, in each location. — If in a multi-precinct location, try to distance the signature judges as far apart at the table as possible. If there are extra tables at a location, place one signature judge at each table. • Try to prop open as many doors as you can for less contact and more air ventilation. • Officials should ensure scanners remain 6 feet apart from the voting tables so voters waiting to scan their ballots may do so safely and while socially distancing. • Try to place the garbage cans close to exits so voters can discard any personal protective equipment or masks on their way out.