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Voting safely: how to protect yourself from covid-19 when voting in the 2020 presidential elections?

2020-09-01T19:36:27.414Z


Although there is no vaccine available against coronavirus and more than 6 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the United States, the presidential elections in November will be a health challenge ...


Undecided states are the most affected by covid-19 2:37

(CNN) -

Are you ready to make your mark in history?

When you exercise your right to vote on November 3, you will have done something no American has done in more than 50 years: vote during a deadly pandemic.

The "Hong Kong flu" struck the United States in September 1968, and although it eventually killed more than 100,000 Americans over the next two years, the impact in the 1968 elections was minimal.

Cases began to increase the week after the elections, peaking in December, with another wave the following year, mitigated by a vaccine that had already been developed.

But that is not the reality of today.

There is currently no vaccine available.

As of Aug. 31, at least 183,598 people in the United States had died from the deadly new coronavirus, according to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

More than 6 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with Covid-19, and the numbers continue to rise in many parts of the country.

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Given these facts, is it safe to vote in person on Election Day 2020?

Or should you choose early voting or vote by mail?

Experts say the answer depends on a variety of factors unique to you: your personal risk, the degree of covid-19 transmission in your area, and your willingness to plan and execute personal safety precautions when casting your vote.

Make a voting plan.

Make that voting plan early and have a backup plan for that plan, ”advised Hannah Klain, an Equal Justice Works fellow in the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York City.

"Having a plan so you don't have to choose between your health and your fundamental right to vote is the most important thing voters can do right now," Klain said.

1. Verify the data

Knowing if the virus is spreading in your local area is critical when you're about to go to the polls, said Dr. Marybeth Sexton, assistant professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Emory University in Atlanta.

"If you are in an area that has really taken control of COVID-19, and it has very little spread in the community, it is safer than areas that are having continuous outbreaks in terms of being close to people," Sexton said.

The status of the virus in your county can be found in real time on various national trackers, such as the one maintained by Johns Hopkins or the PolicyLab at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Most state and local governments also provide citizens with up-to-date information so that you can also call or check online.

  • Tip:

    To avoid falling victim to misinformation or misinformation, rely on official counts from trusted officials and institutions for numbers on the viral spread rate before making a decision.

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2. Know your risk

Remember: anyone can be infected with the new coronavirus, no matter their age or how healthy they are, although people with certain underlying conditions are at higher risk for serious complications, such as being placed on a ventilator in the ICU.

It is true that younger people are more likely to have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, but a growing number of healthy young people are becoming seriously ill.

Some even die.

Others may become members of the club of those with long-term covid-19 symptoms, unable to shed the aftermath of the virus for months.

If you're not at high risk for the virus and community transmission is low, consider volunteering as a poll worker, Sexton said.

"The more people they have in place, the faster and more orderly the process will be," he said.

"Then they may be able to move people out of line for a long period of time."

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3. Mail it

If you live in an area where transmission of the virus has been high, or are in a high-risk group, that may be a good reason to consider getting an absentee ballot and voting by mail, experts say.

It's very easy to get an application in your voting district at Vote.org, or at the US Vote Foundation - just fill out a short form and an email will be sent with the application.

All you have to do is print it, sign it and send it to the indicated address.

When must your absentee ballot arrive to be part of the count?

Vote.org also has a list of deadlines by state - as does the US Vote Foundation - but it's best to double-check in case your state has implemented changes due to covid-19.

Both organizations also have a list of resources by state that you can use to check the rules for your state.

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4. Deliver your ballot by mail

Some voters plan to deliver their ballot by mail in person.

If that's nothing more than opening a mail slot and inserting your ballot, it's fine as long as you use hand sanitizer right away.

If you have to wait outside, be sure to wear a mask and follow the recommendations for physical distancing of at least six feet.

If you have to enter a building, read on for specific tips.

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5. Vote in person

Voting in person is a right appreciated by many Americans, and for those concerned about their ballot getting lost in the mail, this may be their preferred option.

Standing in long lines at the polling place with people who may or may not wear masks, often inside buildings without good ventilation, certainly increases the risk of contracting COVID-19.

But there are things you can do to reduce your risk if you vote in person:

Protect your community, starting now:

We are only a couple of months away from the election, and experts say that taking action now to make the community safer before the election is one of the best things we can do to protect ourselves. ourselves and our loved ones.

“I put voting in the same category as getting children back to school;

These are things that should be really important to us, ”Sexton said.

“So this is a time to keep limiting large gatherings, avoid in-person dinners and not be in bars and parties, because the level of virus in the community is going to determine how safe it is to vote in person.

So what we can do to make our community safer ahead of time will make voting safer. "

Check your polling station:

What is the level of protection that will be at your assigned polling station?

You need to know in advance, for example:

  • If you will spend most of your waiting standing outside

  • Whether masks are required for both voters and poll workers

  • Whether space markers 2 meters apart will be visible on floors to control social distancing

  • If there is an entrance and exit from the voting area

  • Whether there will be a plexiglass barrier between the voter and the poll worker

  • Whether poll workers will wear face shields, surgical masks, and gloves

  • Whether there will be adequate space between the private voting booths

  • Whether poll workers will disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, voting booths, and restrooms regularly

"Outdoors is dramatically safer than indoors because of the airflow," said Sexton, an infectious disease specialist, adding that time spent indoors should be minimized.

You also want to vote in a location that has a separate entry and exit point to minimize crowding in the space.

"Historically, my polling place ends with a two-way line going up and down a large enclosed hallway, which is not something you would like to do at this point," Sexton said.

"Talk to your local government about your local polling place and what they have thought about security," Sexton said.

"Some of these things can be corrected by limiting the number of people who come inside at any one time, and actually spacing the stations and spacing the rows, and then making sure everyone wears masks."

The safest places will be school gyms, community recreation centers, convention centers and large parking lots, according to the guidelines of the Brennan Center and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

  • Tip:

    Don't vote in person if your polling place is located in a high-risk facility, such as a nursing home.

Some districts plan to offer sidewalk voting, especially for those who are not feeling well or are at extremely high risk, according to Klain.

"If poll workers are voting on the sidewalk, we would like them to have additional special protective equipment such as gloves, a face shield and a mask," Klain said.

Vote early:

If your district allows it, vote early.

The first dates start in September in some states.

This is a great way to reduce your exposure to the virus as it will reduce crowds.

You can find out if your state allows early voting at Vote.org or check with your state.

Even if you can't vote on a day other than November 3, stay in touch with local friends on Facebook or a neighborhood site like Nextdoor.

People often post updates on crowds at different times of the day, which can be used to plan your trip.

Choose your mask carefully (and be sure to wear it over your nose and mouth):

Wearing a mask over the mouth but leaving the nose exposed defeats the purpose of a mask, studies have shown.

Since the vast majority of us do not breathe through our mouths, the virus is more likely to enter by breathing through our noses.

Therefore, cover your nose and mouth when wearing a mask, experts say.

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While any mask is better than nothing, studies have shown that cotton masks with two or three layers of fabric provide more protection than single-layer masks or handkerchiefs.

In fact, a recent study found that bandanas and masks are less effective at protection.

"You don't want a mask that when you hold it you can see your hand on the other side," Sexton said.

“If you use a filter in your mask, be sure to change it regularly because it can clog.

You can tell if it feels a little harder to breathe.

Be especially wary of similar N95-type masks sold at major retailers, Sexton said.

"Some of those N95 community-use masks have an exhalation valve," he said.

“They make them more comfortable to wear, but you are not protecting the people around you;

you are putting your airflow directly into the environment.

“It can actually make things worse because you focus your breath on that valve, to go through it with some force and the droplets can travel a little further.

Therefore, we strongly recommend that people do not wear a mask that has an exhalation valve.

Vote alone:

Unless you have a disability that requires assistance, vote alone, experts say.

This is not the year to bring your children or other family members to the polling place.

“I remember going with my parents to vote, but this year is probably not the best idea.

We really want to minimize the number of unnecessary people at the polling place, "said Klain.

Come prepared:

Along with that highly protective mask, you should definitely bring tissues and a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol or disinfectant wipes, says the CDC.

“It can also be helpful to bring your own pen, because sometimes you have to sign the voter card or mark a paper ballot,” Sexton said.

If you and others are following the 2-meter rule, the most likely interpersonal contact during voting is between the voter and the poll workers who register them.

"Ideally there would be a plexiglass barrier, and in states where voters have to provide identification, they should only be able to show their ID through that barrier," Klain said.

"Minimizing the number of shared items that voters touch and poll workers touch is really critical."

If your polling station has a touch screen to vote, you should bring a cotton swab, finger cover, or a glove to cast your vote instead of using your finger.

Be sure to dispose of these aids immediately (remove the glove from your wrist the wrong way round to avoid cross contamination).

"There is a lot of excitement around this election, and that's a wonderful thing," Klain said.

"But no one should be surprised by the upcoming elections, and the best way is to make a plan."

If you are voting by mail, request your ballot by mail as soon as possible and return it as soon as possible.

If you are voting in person, consider voting early, when the lines are likely to be shorter so that not everyone goes on the same day, ”added Kalin.

And if you're voting in person on Election Day, wear personal protection and take whatever steps you can to keep yourself safe, not just yourself, but also poll workers who are sacrificing their time and bodies for it. good of the elections ».

Elections 2020 United States

Source: cnnespanol

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