Gov. Brian Kemp May Vote In Person Despite Being In Quarantine

ATLANTA — Just two days after it appeared Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s ability to vote in Tuesday’s general election may come into question because of his recent exposure to someone who tested positive for the coronavirus, the Centers for Disease and Prevention indicated he – and others in quarantine – may indeed be able to cast his ballot in person if he takes caution in doing so.

Kemp remains in quarantine despite his most recent test coming back negative after he announced Friday he had been in contact with U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson, who recently tested positive. But after extending Georgia’s state of emergency until Dec. 9 in an executive order on Friday, Kemp was given clearance to vote by the CDC, which said Sunday the governor could travel to a polling place if he follows safety and health guidelines.

CDC spokesman Jason McDonald told the Atlanta-Journal Constitution Sunday that Kemp would be able to vote while wearing a mask and maintaining at least 6 feet between himself, election poll workers and other voters, McDonald said,according to the report. Kemp would also need to wash his hands before and after voting and should, McDonald said, alert poll workers that he is in quarantine when he arrives at the polling location.

Kemp had requested an absentee ballot on Friday after announcing he is in quarantine. However, with no guarantee the ballot would be received in time, Kemp would likely have to vote at a polling location near his Athens home to ensure his vote is counted, the Journal-Constitution reported.

Kemp’s office announced Friday that the governor and first lady Marty Kemp had tested negative after Kemp into came into contact with Ferguson within the previous 48 hours before Friday’s announcement. According to reports, Ferguson and Gov. Kemp appeared at a rally together last week before Ferguson began experiencing symptoms of the coronavirus on Thursday night.

Marty Kemp was not reported to have come in contact with Ferguson and the governor was not experiencing any coronavirus symptoms.

Under the extension, bars and restaurants across the state may remain open with certain limitations and it also extends the ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people. The current restrictions were set to expire on Nov. 9. Positive cases and the rolling seven-day average across the state have risen by about 42 percent since Oct. 2, according to data.

This article originally appeared on the Across Georgia Patch