August 31, 2020 – To prepare for the upcoming elections, the Illinois Department of Public Health has issued guidance to protect the health and safety of voters who cast their ballots at polling locations throughout the state during early voting as well as Election Day. “Voting is a right and a privilege,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “While the safest way to cast a ballot this year is voting by mail, we are and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure that Illinoisans can exercise their right to vote in person, in the safest possible environments during this COVID-19 pandemic.”
All local election authorities will be required to develop written prevention plans for every polling site in their jurisdiction in order to comply with the guidance. The plans must accommodate specific COVID-19 training and safety instructions along with the names of the individuals in charge of implementing the plan. Election authorities are being heavily encouraged to move polls that were previously held in senior living residences and long-term care facilities in order to protect voters and residents. All voting locations will have signage asking voters to wear a mask and practice social distancing inside of the polling places. Voters who show up without a face covering will be offered a face covering by election authorities outside of the polls. Foot traffic will be one-directional and booths will be placed at least six feet apart.
Other preventative actions will be taken, such as Plexiglas barriers between officials and voters, routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces and personnel reminding voters to maintain social distancing. Election officials are prohibited from preventing a voter without a face covering from casting their ballot, but they are required to take reasonable action in separating those who choose not to comply from those following guidelines.
