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Safety tips for poll workers [Video]
Dr. Stella Gandhi shares safety tips for poll workers in this “From the Frontlines” video.
Virtual CareClinically Speaking
3 min read
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This year, you can expect to see the polling place looking a bit different this year: you might find new safety precautions such as floor markers to distance voters six feet apart in line; bottles of hand sanitizer; plastic shields for poll workers; and some extra space between voting machines.
Dr. Stella Gandhi shares safety tips for poll workers in this “From the Frontlines” video (opens in new tab).
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Safety tips for poll workers [Video]
Video Transcript
“Hi I’m Dr. Stella Gandhi, and I’m a virtual primary care physician with Oscar Medical Group.
Election day is fast approaching. One group of people who are essential to our voting process, both on Election Day and ahead of it, are our poll workers. If you are volunteering as a poll worker, first - thank you. And second, I’d like to share some safety tips to minimize your risk of exposure to COVID-19 while volunteering.
Bring an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol for yourself, and if possible, provide hand sanitizer at each step in the voting process at visible, frequently used locations like registration desks, voting booths, wherever “I Voted” stickers are dispensed and exits.
Make sure your hands are completely dry before handling paper ballots or electronic voting equipment to prevent any unintended damage!
Wash your hands as frequently as possible with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Any used tissues should be thrown away immediately, and make sure you wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
Wear your mask and encourage voters at your polling site to do the same! Remember that babies and children under 2 should not wear masks.
If you’re asking voters’ to remove their masks for identification purposes, make sure to provide hand sanitizer so voters can sanitize their hands immediately after removing their mask.
If your state requires voters to show their ID, ask voters to hold their IDs up in a visible way to minimize contact. Or, ask voters to place their IDs in a neutral area, so the ID does not need to be passed back and forth.
To minimize talking to the extent possible, post signs in highly visible locations to guide voters through the voting process, remind them of protective measures like social distancing, wearing masks, and sanitizing their hands, and clearly mark points of entry and exit.
You can find more tips for minimizing risk for yourself and your polling site on the CDC website (opens in new tab). Voting is an essential part of our democratic process. Thank you again for volunteering.”
Video published 2020-10-20
Dr. Stella Gandhi is employed by Oscar Medical Group and is not employed by Oscar Insurance.
This content does not constitute medical advice and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, including diagnosis or treatment. Contact your physician with any questions you may have regarding COVID-19 or your personal health. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
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