Do I need to wear a mask when I vote? How to cast your ballot safely amid COVID-19
Voting will be a little different this Election Day.
If you haven’t voted by mail already or cast a ballot at an early-voting center, Tuesday is your day. Voters in Miami-Dade and Broward will decide who will fill some important roles, including Miami-Dade’s mayor, Broward’s supervisor of elections and School Board seats in both counties.
Both counties will vote on a state attorney. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernández Rundle is running against Melba Pearson, a former prosecutor who has worked with Rundle and is now with the American Civil Liberties Union. Broward County State Attorney Mike Satz is retiring after more than four decades in office, leading to eight candidates in that race.
If you plan to vote in this primary, you will want to take note of keeping safe at the precinct amid the pandemic.
Yes, there are rules.
For one, it doesn’t matter whom you’re voting for or which precinct you go to, all voters must wear a mask covering their mouth and nose at all times. Gloves are optional.
Remember, masks are the law in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. And if you break it, you can be fined.
You also need to stand at least 6 feet apart from others while waiting in line. That might make the line seem longer than usual, though with the rise of voting by mail, it’s unlikely that the wait will be too bad.
One possible plus side of voting during the pandemic? Campaign workers might actually keep their distance as you walk to the polls.
What about inside the precinct?
Here’s what you need to know if you’re voting on Election Day in Miami-Dade and Broward counties during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Can I bring my own pen to the polls to reduce COVID-19 risk?
Yes, you can, but it might not be necessary in Broward County. All Broward voting precincts will be giving each voter a free sealed pen that can be used to fill out the ballot and then be taken home as a souvenir, according to the Broward County Supervisor of Elections office.
If you want to use your own pen: In Miami-Dade, the ink needs to be blue or black. In Broward, the ink needs to be black.
It’s likely that poll workers will have hand sanitizer or wipes on hand as many did in March during the presidential primary. It’s not advisable to bring a bottle of Lysol and spray it around others, although some poll workers had their own cans earlier this year.
Are there exceptions to Miami-Dade, Broward mask mandates?
In Miami-Dade, where you have to wear a mask in public, both inside and outside, exceptions include children younger than 2, anyone who has a medical condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a face covering and anyone who is hearing-impaired or is communicating with someone who is hearing-impaired.
Broward County’s mask mandate exceptions are similar to those of Miami-Dade. One noticeable difference: You don’t have to wear a mask outside in Broward County unless social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from others) is not possible.
Let’s be real, though: If you’re near a precinct, there will be lots of campaign workers and other voters surrounding you. So you’ll likely have to wear the mask.
Will I be socially distanced from others while in line and at the voting booth?
You’re supposed to be.
Both the Miami-Dade and Broward County Supervisor of Elections offices say that floor markings will be located around each precinct to help people stay at least 6 feet away from others.
In Miami-Dade County, the “privacy booth attendant will be directing voters to the appropriate booth in order to maintain social distancing guidelines,” said Assistant Deputy Supervisor of Elections Robert Rodriguez.
In Broward County, the booths will be six feet apart and voters are encouraged to stagger their entry to reduce the number of people inside the area at a time, said Broward County Elections Department spokesman Steve Vancore. For voters who really want to stay away from others, you can always try to keep at least one empty booth between you and others if the precinct isn’t busy.
Can I still turn in my vote-by-mail ballot and how can I do that?
In Miami-Dade, sealed ballots can be dropped off up until 7 p.m. Tuesday at four locations:
▪ Miami-Dade Elections Department, 2700 NW 87th Ave.
▪ The Elections Department’s Branch Office, located in the lobby of the Stephen P. Clark Center, 111 NW First St.
▪ North Dade Regional Library, 2455 NW 183rd St. in Miami Gardens
▪ South Dade Regional Library, 10750 SW 211th St. in Cutler Bay
In Broward, mail-in ballots can be dropped off until 7 p.m. Tuesday at two locations:
▪ Voting Equipment Center at the Lauderhill Mall (rear entrance), 1501 NW 40th Ave. in Lauderhill
▪ Broward County Administration Building, 115 South Andrews Ave. (Brickell Avenue entrance) in Fort Lauderdale
Where do I vote and what do I need to bring?
Every registered voter is assigned a precinct. Make sure you check your voter registration card to see where your polling place is. Broward offers an easy way to look up someone’s precinct on its election page. Miami-Dade also allows a person to check their polling place and get other information for voting.
In both counties, voters must bring photo identification.
Voters can also bring a sample ballot.
For more information in Miami-Dade, call 305-499-VOTE (8683). In Broward, call the main office from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 954-357-7050.
What other safety measures are being implemented at the polls during COVID-19?
Voters in Miami-Dade and Broward will both see signage placed in the precinct and outside encouraging social distancing. Workers will be wearing masks and face shields. Common areas will be wiped more frequently.
Broward walks voters through the process in a video, showing how a voter simply has to hold their ID up to be scanned.
Miami-Dade is encouraging voters to “review your sample ballot in advance of coming to vote.”
“You can even mark it and bring it with you,” the department said in its safety tip sheet. “Knowing your selections in advance of arriving will speed up the process and allow you to exit the facility faster.”
