The Independent View: How Coronavirus is Changing Election Day for Next Four States

Four States head to the Polls Tuesday, March 17th. Here's how Coronavirus is Changing their Election Day.

Arizona Secretary of State Kathy Hobbs, Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee, Illinois Elections Board Chairman Charles Scholz, and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said in a Joint Statement last week that they are working closely "with our state health officials to ensure that our poll workers and voters can be confident that voting is safe."

Arizona

Maricopa County, the State's most Populous County and where Phoenix is Located, will Cut about 80 Polling Locations Tuesday due to Polling Locations Canceling, as well as Poll Workers Canceling. There is a Lack of Necessary Cleaning Supplies to Stock All Polling Locations. Of the 151 Polling Locations that remain in the County, Voters will be Allowed to Vote at Any Location, Not just the One Nearest to their Residence. "Folks should come on Election Day if they want to vote," Supervisor Bill Gates said. "It's going to be safe and there will be many places to do that."

Florida

Due to Coronavirus concerns, Florida Officials have Moved Voting Locations across the State from Areas where those who could be Vulnerable to Coronavirus live.

In Leon County, Home to the State Capital of Tallahassee, Two Precincts at Assisted Living Facilities were Moved to Minimize Possible Exposure to Vulnerable Older People. In Broward County, a Dozen Precincts out of 421 have been Moved, mostly from Retirement Homes to other Public Locations such as Libraries, Elementary Schools, or Community Centers. Miami-Dade County will keep Six Precincts at Senior Facilities so Voters that live there can Vote On Site. But All other Voters Assigned to that Precinct must Vote at Newly Assigned Locations.

"Our recommendation would be if there's a polling location in assisted living facility, allow the residents to vote there," Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said Wednesday at a Press Conference. "But maybe the general public should have the option or be directed to go to a different polling location."

Some Counties in Florida were also Experiencing a Drop in Poll Workers. In Palm Beach County, 762 people said they could Not Work as Poll Workers as of of Sunday Night. There are still currently 2,848 Poll Workers. Many of the Poll Workers in that County are Over 60-years-old, making them a Demographic at Risk of Coronavirus. Election Officials said they will Provide Hand Sanitize Products, Clean Voting Equipment, and Additional Training to Poll Workers. Election Officials encouraged Voters to Vote Early or during the Off-Peak Hours of 1p.m. to 4p.m. on Election Day.

DeSantis maintained as the week continued that the State is "definitely voting" Tuesday. “They voted during the Civil War. We’re going to vote,” DeSantis said during a Press Conference Friday.

Illinois

The Biggest Change in Illinois is Moving Polling Locations from Senior living Facilities. In Chicago alone, 168 of 2,069 Polling Places have had to Move. Chicago Board of Elections Chair, Marisel Hernandez, reminded Voters during a Press Conference Sunday to Check the City's Board of Elections Website to Locate their Polling Place in Case of Changes and to Practice "Social Distancing" when Voting. "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," she said. "This is what’s happening right now with our upcoming election on Tuesday."

The Chicago Board of Election said Vote by Mail Applications have also Hit an All-Time High, with 117,813 Applications Received. Early Voting Hours in some Areas have also been Extended. The Chicago Board of Elections Extended Hours for the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, before Tuesday's Election. Early Voting will also be Available Monday. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said Sunday "we're going to go ahead with" the Election. “But we've been extra careful at all of our polling places, Everybody is practicing good hygiene. And we're making sure that it's safe for people to come and vote. The schools are closed, so many people will be voting in schools. And there won't be big crowds.” he said.

Ohio

Ohio officials said last week that Poll Workers who had been Scheduled to Work Tuesday's Election were Cancelling due to Fears of Coronavirus. As a result, Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) tried to Recruit State and Local Government Employees, College Students, and from Outside Organizations.

State Election Officials also Encouraged Voters to Cast Early Ballots or Vote Absentee if they want to Avoid Heading to the Polls. Voting Locations at roughly 125 Senior Living Facilities Moved to New Locations to Avoid Spreading the Virus to Residents of those Facilities.

LaRose's Office also told County Boards that they will be Reimbursed for Buying Sanitizer Products, Disinfectants, Disinfecting or Antibacterial Wipes, Disposable Gloves, Rubbing Alcohol, or Isopropyl Alcohol, and other Sanitizing Materials.

While Gov. Mike DeWine (R) Signed an Order Thursday Banning most Gatherings of 100 or More People, the Order did Not Count to Voting Locations.
DeWine Confirmed the State is still Holding its Election Tuesday, adding that Officials have been Urging Voters to Cast their Ballots Early.
“We're going to go ahead,” DeWine said. “But we're telling people, again, to be careful.”

DeWine jut Announced that he is Recommending the State's Primaries be Postponed until June to Protect Voters from the Coronavirus Pandemic.