Doctor Gives Tips On How To Stay Healthy While Voting During The Pandemic

There's an uptick in new coronaviruses cases around the country as Election Day approaches.

It has many voters worried about how to safely cast their ballots. Election officials around the country are reporting a record number of requests for absentee ballots.

“From a coronavirus perspective, the safest way to vote is to vote by mail,” said Dr. Krutika Kuppalli with the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Because voting by mail may not be an option for everyone, Kuppalli helped develop guidelines for safe in-person voting.

“It's not about election day. It's what we do in the days and the weeks prior to the election. We need everybody to play a role in trying to help decrease the rates of community transmission,” she said.

While states have different laws, Kuppalli recommends voting early to avoid long lines, wearing a mask and trying to maintain social distance.

To create more space, election officials in Texas transformed a sports arena into an early polling site. One official said machines are stationed six feet apart and sanitized after every vote.

Kuppalli says polling locations need to be vigilant to keep voters healthy.

“Have hand sanitizer available at entrances, exits, and at every step along the way during the polling process. And also to have disposable pencils, pens, or ballot-marking devices,” she said.

Rona Kantor considers it her duty to vote in-person, but with the pandemic, the Florida retiree said it's too risky to wait in those long Election Day lines.

“Even if we voted early, we know the lines would be enormous. So for the very first time in our lives, we decided to do a mail-in ballot,” Kantor said. “I've never forgotten that wonderful feeling of walking out of the voting booth going 'Yes!’ I certainly will miss that. But I think what I'm doing is just as important right now."

Click here to learn more about Oklahoma's deadlines for absentee ballots and early voting.