KANKAKEE – Kankakee County Clerk Dan Hendrickson is assuring voters of safety exercises being used at all voting locations today, assuring poll workers are doing what they can to keep voters safe during the pandemic.
It comes after the Centers for Disease Control issued new voter tips this week, saying voters who’ve tested positive or have been exposed to coronavirus can vote. The agency says “You should also let poll workers know that you are sick or in quarantine when you arrive at the polling location.”
The Clerk has recommended all voters wear a mask while voting.
“If you have concerns about voting and COVID-19, you’re not alone. But we have taken precautions to try to mitigate some of those issues. Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are at every polling location.” The Clerk posted in statement Tuesday morning. “Please wait until after you’ve finished voting to use the hand sanitizer. If the sanitizer gets the ballot wet, the ballot could jam inside the reader, rendering it inoperable. Instructions have been given to the judges to regularly wipe down booths, pollbooks, pens and the touch screen equipment.”
The local vote talliers are asking you wait until after you vote to use sanitizer and if you’d like, you can bring your own pen to the poll, so long as it’s a black ink or black felt tip.
For those wishing to escape long lines, Kankakee County Clerk’s office recommends you vote during slower times in the day occurring typically between 10 am and 3 pm.
“We ask for your understanding and patience today. We know that the past few months have brought a lot of uncertainty, fear and anger. But we will get through this if we act wisely and compassionately,” said the Clerk Tuesday.
