Lubbock voters are considering a short ballot on this primary runoff voting day. So the voting process on Tuesday should be brief, too, even as extra precautions to protect against the spread of COVID-19 are in place.
“They will have the opportunity to take one of the plastic gloves that we have so they can have that glove on for protection while they’re doing their signature," explained Lubbock County Elections Administrator Dorothy Kennedy. Then they’ll be given a pencil, an unsharpened pencil, where they’ll use the eraser end to do the touch screen on the election equipment itself.”
Face masks are not required while voting, per state guidelines, but are highly encouraged.
Kennedy said this election is kind of a trial run for November 3, when Lubbock County will vote not only for president but also in local races postponed earlier this year.
“You’ll still see, at minimum, this level of protection,” she said.
The elections official said she received positive feedback from voters and election workers about the 10 days of early voting, extended from the typical five days.
One worker tested positive for coronavirus during early voting. The site they worked at was closed and cleaned and other workers were asked to quarantine.
“We’ve been checking on everybody and everybody’s been healthy," Kennedy said. "The person who was sick said they’re doing better.”
In Lubbock County, 9,156 people voted early this election. That’s a little more than 5% of registered voters in the county. More than in the primary runoff of 2018, but less than in 2016, and with an additional five days to do so.
Statewide, just over 6% of registered voters cast their ballot before election day. In-person early voting has generally gone smoothly throughout the state, but the Texas Tribune reports voting by mail continues to be a complicated effort for many.
Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some voting locations changed due to the pandemic. More information is available at votelubbock.org.
