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State Health Officials Share 12 Tips for Safe In-Person Voting

October 22, 2020

ARLINGTON, VA—Ahead of National Vote Early Day on Saturday, officials with the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) joined local public health agencies and voter education groups to remind voters of steps they can take to ensure they stay healthy while voting in-person, either early or on November 3rd. These tips are intended to help voters prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus while exercising their right to vote this election year. The 12 tips for safe, in-person voting are as follows:

  • Wash your hands before and after voting. Avoid touching your eyes or face.
  • Wear a mask, even if you are outside.
  • Do your best to maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from others.
  • Avoid doing anything that may tempt you to remove your mask. This includes eating or talking.
  • Observe signs to help you move safely around the polling place.
  • Look for single use voting supplies to limit your contact with public surfaces.
  • Do not disinfect or wipe down the voting equipment yourself.
  • Leave your kids at home with a responsible guardian while you vote.
  • Speed the process by reviewing a sample ballot and being prepared.
  • Vote at off-peak times to avoid crowds.
  • If you don’t feel well, contact local election officials about your voting options.
  • Check HealthyVoting.org for more information about healthy voting in your state.

"Knowing your voting options and what you can do to vote safely will ensure that casting your vote during the pandemic will not compromise your health,” said Dr. Rachel Levine, Secretary of Health, Pennsylvania Department of Health, and President, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

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ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and freely associated states, and Washington, D.C., as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice.