DELAWARE, Ohio — Election day is here, and it’s coming as Ohio continues to see more than 3,000 COVID-19 cases a day. It’s one of the reasons Jace Swingle decided to vote absentee.
“If I was at home, I feel like I still would have voted absentee as well, just because of the safety reasons,” said Swingle.
This is the first time Swingle has voted absentee. He says he would have voted-in person if it weren’t for the pandemic.
“I definitely would have gone to the polls, I think. Still, this is a very important election to vote in, and I definitely would have wanted to have voted in it.”
But, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has a message for worried voters.
“I think that if you feel safe going to your grocery store, you should feel safe coming to your polling location," he said.
Safety precautions, like signage and social distancing, will be in place. LaRose says there will be single-use styluses so voters don’t have to touch the machines with their fingers.
“Machines are all spaced six feet apart. Everyone will be directed to a machine. That machine will be sanitized by a member of the poll worker's staff.”
And with a record 56,000 plus poll workers signed up to work Tuesday, there are safety measures in place for them, too.
“We started a massive poll worker recruitment effort. Part of that is to get them into training and get them trained. Now, the training covers not only on how to run the voting machine and answer voters' questions and make sure they’re able to cast their ballot, but of course, also the health and safety protocols in place this year,” LaRose said.
Even with all of those protocols, LaRose is still counting on voters to help protect themselves and others.
“Voters should wear their masks when they come to polling locations but if you forgot it, or if you don’t have one, then a mask will be provided for every voter. There are also things like gloves, hand sanitizer, and alcohol wipes,” he said.
