Voting & COVID-19
COVID-19 presents new challenges to voters in 2020. Elections during the pandemic require increased precautions including maintaining social distancing, the usage of personal protective equipment like face masks, and increased sanitization to keep voters and election officials safe. States that have already held primary elections during the pandemic experienced increased waiting times for voters.
Recommendations
While the Center for Disease Control created a protocol for election locations to increase safety and decrease the risks of contracting COVID-19, the safest ways to vote in 2020 are early and absentee. As many voters select these safer options, election officials ask voters to request and return ballots as early as possible.
At this time, the CDC mentions there is no specific greater risk of COVID-19 to those living with HIV. However, HIV remains on the CDC’s website as an immunocompromising trait. Additionally, COVID-19 is an unpredictable disease that some carry completely asymptomatic and others experience fatal complications. There is no way to know how COVID-19 would impact you or those around you.
Given these unknowns, Aliveness urges all members to consider voting absentee in the 2020 elections. If you do vote in-person, wear a mask and other personal protective equipment while keeping a safe distance from others.
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