Protect yourself and others from COVID-19 by following healthful voting practices.
HealthyVoting.org offers tips for safely voting by mail and in person on Election Day or in jurisdictions that allow early voting. The website’s guidance is based on guidance from public health experts and state election laws.
Here are a few suggestions from the site:
By mail
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after dropping a ballot in a mailbox or drop box. Or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
- Practice physical distancing and wear a mask or face cover when dropping off your ballot at a voting location or if you go to a post office. Wash your hands before and afterward.
In-person
- Keep the voting center or polling place healthy for everyone by following instructions at the voting center for face covers, distancing and handwashing.
- Avoid touching things not related to voting.
- Don’t try to sanitize the voting machines. Election workers are trained to sanitize the machines, which can be sensitive.
- Reduce interactions with other people by visiting the voting center when it’s less busy, such as mid-morning or early afternoon.
- Contact your local elections office about waiting times. Some jurisdictions provide that information online or through an app.
- Use curbside or drive-through voting if available. Check your local elections website for locations.
The site offers instructions for voting by mail or in person, including how to make sure your ballot is counted. It also offers information for health care professionals.
HealthyVoting.org was designed by public health and civic education experts to help voters understand their voting options and follow public health guidance for voting by mail or in person.
