How To Practice Pandemic Safety In The 2020 Election

Voting might look a little different this November thanks to the pandemic. That’s why Shantiel Soeder, deputy director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, strongly recommends casting your ballot from the comforts of home.

Once you’re registered, submit a Vote by Mail application (available at 443vote.us) to receive an absentee ballot, which anyone in Ohio can request. Considering the pandemic, it might be the safest option. “We ask everyone to put these applications in now,” says Soeder, “so we can mail them ballots as soon as possible.” Once the actual absentee ballot arrives, fill it out and drop it back in the mailbox by Nov. 2.

For in-person voting diehards or people without ready access to mail, the Board of Elections is taking precautions to keep voters and poll workers safe. Floor markers will create 6-foot buffers in the queues, and face masks will be required. “We encourage everyone to bring their own,” says Soeder, “but we’ve also procured 150,000 disposable masks for anyone who forgets.”