Posted on 10/29/2020 11:48:26 AM PDT by SJackson
With less than a week before the election, Iowans are losing places to cast ballots.
Voters in Iowa are facing shuttered polling locations less than a week away from Election Day, largely due to the various outbreaks of COVID-19 that have gripped the state.
Iowa is one of the several Midwest states experiencing record upticks in new coronavirus infections, with 1,133 Iowans testing positive for the virus yesterday. Two days prior, Iowa set a record for the number of new cases, reporting 2,691 on Oct. 26. In total, more than 121,000 people in Iowa tested positive for the coronavirus.
The current state testing positivity rate sits at 12.8 percent, well above the 10 percent rate recommendation to begin reopening economic and public sectors.
Reporting by NPR, the Iowa Public Radio News and the Center for Public Integrity finds that hundreds of polling centers have closed due to COVID-19, leaving voters with fewer local options.
"All of us, we are going to have to look up where we need to go. I mean, I'm not sure which place I would go," Sheena Thomas, a voter in Des Moines, told reporters. "That's going to be an issue for everybody."
Thomas ultimately decided to vote absentee, but mass shutdowns and consolidations in locations can lead to confusions as to where to go, as well as longer lines to cast ballots.
These closures also come during a contentious presidential election and many local elections, leading officials to fear that a lack of polling centers may skew the election outcome. NPR further notes that since 2016, Iowa has lost 261 polling places, which affect roughly 30 percent of the state’s voters, many of whom reside in urban areas.
The same analysis also revealed that communities with larger proportions of people of color have also experienced higher rates of polling place shutdowns, leading to more fears of voter suppression.
"I'm certain that it's going to make it harder for people to vote. But I am seeing a resolve right now, where people are determined," Vikki Brown, the chair of the Black Hawk County Democrats, told reporters. "Whatever you do, we're going to counteract it."
Black Hawk County is one of the most diverse areas in Iowa and has seen larger portions of polling place closures.
Some of the main reasons for closures during this election stem from concerns over hosting polling places during the pandemic, as well as shortage of volunteer poll workers willing to come into contact with hundreds of people.
As a solution, polling places may be consolidated during the primaries in multiple states, such as in Atlanta and Milwaukee.
“On Election Day, we can anticipate to see long lines in areas where there have been mass closures," Leigh Chapman, the director of the voting rights program at the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, said regarding the 2020 Election Day.
While hundreds of thousands of Iowans appear to intend to vote absentee, like Thomas, polling station closures have proven to slow voter turnout. |
When my town got COVID, if I had to go anywhere I did the following things:
* Wore a mask.
* Wore an eye shield.
* Wore a long-sleeve shirt.
* Wore latex gloves.
* Wiped down with a Lysol disinfectant cloth anything I brought into the home then used a second cloth to wipe my hands.
* Stripped off my clothes, tossed them into the washing machine and took a shower.
* Put on fresh clothes.
Excessive? Probably. But anyone who wants to go around town worried that they’ll catch COVID can practically insure they won’t get it that day if they follow these steps. You won’t be infected if you block off all the avenues of transmission which is through the eyes, nose or mouth and possibly through touching infected surfaces then transfering the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth.
I would happily go to any town in Iowa (in theory since I don’t live there) and cast a ballot by following these steps. It’ a minor inconvenience but if I felt a full-court press against catching the virus was warranted, this is what I would do - and did do during the height of the scare.
They can vote at the Walmart, I bet that’s open.
That’s how I see it. Lines HELP Trump. I’ll stand there allllllll day.
I’ve been an obnoxiously vehement Election Day voter, but was recently swayed to vote early by a Dan Bongino podcast. To paraphrase his argument that most resonated with me: “This is not the year for tradition or to take a stand. Do that another time.” He’s right. Something could happen between now, when I’m able to go vote, and Election Day (a blizzard, an accident, the strategic shutdown of polling places for a virus, etc). If a lot of “somethings” happen to a lot of people, we’re in a world of trouble.
So, I’d ask you to seriously contemplate your dedication to Election Day. Why does it matter so much?
Yes, this is the plan.
How much sense does it possibly make?
“Covid is spiking, so let’s close a lot of polling places and make everyone crowd together and stand in long lines at the few polling places that are open”?
Total dumbassery!
I may be wrong, but I don’t think any state allows voting on the Monday before Election Day.
Now we see the real plan.
So, I’d ask you to seriously contemplate your dedication to Election Day. Why does it matter so much?"
Oooh, easy one newbie. Because, in my well-organized optical-scan ballot state, the precinct books have my name and ID printed right next to my counter-signature. If I vote by any other means, I cannot guarantee with the same absolute certainty that my vote will be counted.
Maybe in a desperate pinch I would fill a ballot at the voter board, but I've never done that.
I would never, never in a million years vote via a mail-in ballot.
I absolutely don’t mean mail-in vote; that method is supremely dangerous and stupid. I meant why not go IN-PERSON early, now, when you’re 100% able to go. Who the hell knows what will happen to you or to voting on Election Day between now and then. Presumably the same optical scan, precinct book, blah blah protections exist if you vote early in-person. It is not unreasonable to be frightened to death of not being able to cast a vote on November 3rd.
Here in Alaska it’s allowed. However, any vote cast after Oct 29 is not counted until 7 days after the election. Sort of bizarre IMO.
This needs to be headed off. You will see Democrats trying to shut down polling places in particular in places where they know their voters have voted via mail or early. Republicans need to demand these polling places are open.
I vote or I shoot.
I’ve given up being an obnoxiously Election Day only voter, even though it’s totally against my beliefs.
I voted today.
I’m not happy about it, not one little bit.
I feel like the press, talking heads, threats of election day violece, covid shut-downs have all somewhat intimidated me into voting early.
It’s BS.
Most important election ever, also the most effed up election, too.
This election chit best be cleaned up after this election.
I’m pissed.
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