Voting safely during COVID-19

Dr. Michael Rocha, a cardiologist in New Bedford, MA and a member of the COVID19 Action Coalition, a physician-led group that is working to keep everyone safe in MA during this pandemic talks about voting safely in these times of COVID.

Voting in person increases the number of people gathering indoors. Already, we have seen an increase in COVID over the last week in Massachusetts.

These simple steps and tips in this video will help you vote safely and can go a long way to stop the spread.

What to Bring:

– Wear a 2 or more-layer cloth mask that snuggly covers your nose and mouth and is secure under your chin.
– Bring your own personal hand sanitizer.
– Bring your own black ink pen.
– Optional protective items include a face shield that can be used over the mask but NOT in place of a mask.
– You also want to avoid masks that have exhalation valves.

Wash Your Hands:

– You may be tired of hearing it but we need to keep washing our hands.
– Wash your hands before entering and after leaving the polling locations.
– While in the polling location, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol frequently, especially after touching surfaces.

Socially Distance:
– Wear your mask and maintain at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) of distance from others.

Try to avoid crowds.
– Use early voting options including in-person(by Oct 30), mail-in, or drop off boxes.
– Vote at off-peak times, such as mid-morning.
– If driving to the polls, monitor the voter line from your car and join it when it’s shorter.

Be Prepared:
– Check your voting location and requirements in advance.
– Verify your voter registration information is correct in advance.
– Read Question 1 and 2 and a sample ballot before entering the polling station to be ready to go when you are in the booth.

Be well. Be safe. Let’s Beat COVID together and let’s vote!

⁣⁣Source @CDC.gov