Keeping COVID-19 concerns and safety at the forefront, the Marshall County Election Board members will be working with the county’s nursing home officials in order to make sure confined voters get their votes counted.
Clerk Deb VanDeMark explained to the board members in a meeting Wednesday morning that Election Law allows the Travel Board to be at a place of a confined voter in order to obtain that person’s vote. She said many nursing homes remain closed to the public and she wants to ensure the safety of the nursing home residents and the members of the Travel Board.
“The Election Board appoints two people at the nursing home to act as the Travel Board,” VanDeMark explained. “We would actually get the names from the nursing home of two individuals – we may or may not be able to get a Democrat and Republican but we would try our best to do that, but it may not always work.”
The workers would sign paperwork to verify that they assisted a resident with completing a ballot.
Election Board member Rick Huff said he would like to have one Democrat and Republican at each place if the Travel Board cannot be allowed inside a facility.
VanDeMark noted that the Travel Board members will be wearing masks when fulfilling their duties and entering a confined voter’s home.
The board agreed to authorize a Democrat and Republican at a nursing home facility to act as a Travel Board if the Travel Board members cannot gain access into the buildings. If there is more guidance before the Travel Board begins duties on October 15, the board could change that decision.
