What to Expect at the Town Election - June 20, 2020

The Halifax Town Election will take place on Saturday, June 20 from 10:00am to 6:00pm in the Gym at the Halifax Elementary School. Halifax Town Clerk Barbara Gaynor has taken great care to plan and run the safest possible Town Election. The following measures have been established to ensure the safety of our election workers and the voting public:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) will be supplied to poll workers
• Public Safety detail officers will wear either surgical mask or N95 masks and gloves
• All polling places will have doors and windows open for air movement
• Social distancing markings, directional marking, and barriers will be installed to guide voters
• Election workers will be trained in hygiene, sanitation and social distancing procedures
• Hand Sanitizer will be provided upon entrance and exit
• Facilities staff will routinely sanitize polling locations and booths
• Plexi-glass barriers will be placed on tables to separate poll workers and voters
• Voting booths will be at least 6 feet apart and cleaned by staff. Each precinct polling area will be configured to maximize proper social distancing between voters with limited booth.
• Pencils will be provided to each voter at the check-in table and drop off at the check-out table in designated baskets or you can use your own black ink pen (ImageCast machines will not read red/highlighters/crayons – using these will cause problems with the machines). Each pencil will be sanitized after each use.
• Voters are strongly urged to wear cloth face coverings to and in the polling place
• Keep your ballot dry and free from hand sanitizers. Do not use hand sanitizer while handling your ballot and be sure your voting booth is dry as it will cause problems with voting machines.
• Voters will be asked to enter, vote, and exit the polling location without delay. No lingering or socializing will be permitted.

You can help the electoral process by observing the social distancing protocol which will be enforced at polling places. Voters will be asked to maintain 6 feet of distance and the number of voters permitted inside the polling places will be limited. We ask for your patience and courtesy. Please be prepared to wait outside when polls are busy.

This election comes at a time where the Town shows tremendous recovery from COVID-19. However we are concerned about the potential for community spread of the virus if we do not follow the carefully planned safety, health surveillance, sanitary, social distancing and good hygiene measures in place.

You can help!  Please continue you good hygiene practices, wash your hands, keep your hands away from your face, wear a mask, and be respectful courteous and caring for your fellow voters and election workers.  If you do plan to VOTE on Saturday, June 20 we will look forward to safely and courteously supporting your right to vote.  Have safe day!