Lynn Constabile, Elections Director
Yavapai County, Arizona Elections Department
Prescott AZ (March 16, 2020) – Yavapai County Elections has received many questions about the precautions we have taken regarding tomorrow’s election and COVID-19. The following guidance was shared with both the election poll workers and the vote center locations today.
We are urging all poll workers to continue to implement precautions for a safe voting experience.
As a county we have followed CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting, we are distributing a cleaning kit to the poll workers at each Vote Center, which includes: professional/hospital grade Simple Green D anti-bacterial (EPA Registration # 10324-154), paper towels, antibacterial soap, terry towels, hand sanitizer wipes, Lysol wipes, and vinyl gloves.
Both the CDC and Arizona Department of Health continue to recommend the following best practices for promoting health and safety on Election Day and these guidelines have been communicated to the poll workers:
- Routinely cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects that are frequently touched. Examples:
o Have voters use the stylus pens on the poll books and wipe the stylus between voters.
o Wipe down the poll booths after each use.
- Encourage voters, staff, and poll workers to maintain a safe distance apart when possible:
o Suggest people standing in line stay 6 feet apart.
o Have the voter hold their own driver’s license under the poll book camera.
o Have the voter hold their driver’s license as the Poll Book clerk manually looks up the voter.
o Encourage use of paper ballots instead of touch screen by asking the voter if “paper is ok”.
- Other common sense approaches to limiting germ spreading:
o Encourage everyone to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
o Encourage everyone to cover coughs or sneeze with elbow, or a tissue and immediately discarding the tissue in the trash.
o Limit touching your face and eyes as much as possible.
o Wearing a mask if you are not sick is not recommended as it encourages you to touch your face more and provides a false sense of security.
Safety is our greatest concern. These guidelines and the partnership between the poll workers, vote center locations and our office will allow us to have a successful and safe election tomorrow.