KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When Missouri voters head to the polls Tuesday for an election to decide a series of local issues and elect local leaders, they’ll notice changes in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
In Kansas City, Missouri, the election board closed many of its polling places because they are too small to maintain social distancing guidelines. Registered voters received cards in the mail informing them of a new polling location. Elections will take place in many gymnasiums and cafeterias Tuesday.
A spokesperson for the Kansas City Election Board said normally the agency uses about 110 polling locations, but is using 27 this election. The spokesperson is not worried about large lines or back ups because less than 15 percent of voters typically turn out for elections this time of the year.
The spokesperson stressed the change in polling location is strictly about public health and is not an attempt to suppress voter turnout or rig the election.
Once voters get inside their polling place, they’ll see hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes and other measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Poll workers will wear personal protective equipment and many will sit behind a plexiglass barrier. Each voter will get their own pencil to vote, instead of sharing.
Expect to see similar changes at poll locations for August’s primary election.
For a list of issues on the ballot in Jackson County, click here.
