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CHARLESTON -- For those wishing to exercise their power in person at the ballot box during early voting and on Election Day, election officials are working to keep voters and poll workers safe from spread of the coronavirus.
Early voting for the 2020 general election starts Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Saturday, Oct. 31, with Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Voters can early vote during normal business hours at county courthouses or designated early voting locations, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The polls open on Election Day at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
The Secretary of State's Office has worked with county clerks and the Department of Health and Human Resources to develop plans to help people cast their votes while also instituting rules to help maintain social distancing guidelines and keep the spread of the airborne virus to a minimum.
According to the Secretary of State's Office, more than $2 million is available through federal coronavirus relief funds to help counties purchase personal protective equipment (masks, face shields, gloves), cleaning supplies to keep electronic voting machines wiped down, and handling absentee ballots. All poll workers will have access to personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and hand sanitizer.
"Our number one priority is to keep every poll worker and every voter safe from COVID-19," said Secretary of State Mac Warner. "A lot of preparation has taken place behind the scenes, and our counties are prepared to hold another safe election in November."
The DHHR released guidance for polling locations and voters on Sept. 14. Guidance encouraging voters and poll workers to stay home if they feel sick or have any of the common symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, and recent loss of taste or smell. Polling stations are encouraged to put up signage to educate voters of the symptoms and encouraging them to stay home if they have the symptoms or if they have had recent contact with COVID-19 patients, and what their voting alternatives are.