Anti-COVID-19 measures in full effect as presidential primary nears

For Vin Perez-Milano, the threat of COVID-19 will not deter them from voting.

The 2020 election will be the first election Perez-Milano can vote in as U.S. citizen. And although safeguards are still underway throughout the county, the 24 year-old is looking forward to casting their first vote.

“It’s probably one of the most important elections I’ll see in my lifetime,” said Perez-Milano. “The importance of exercising my right is what motivates me to turn out for the vote tomorrow.”

Perez-Milano is just one of some that are expected to hit the polls for the Florida presidential primary today, and while ballot workers prepare for election-day voters, preventative measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 at the polls are in effect.

As school shutdowns and event postponements continue to arise, Miami-Dade County is taking necessary precautions to prevent spreading at polling locations.

“The Florida Department of State is aware and concerned about the public health of Florida’s voters as it relates to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the 2020 election cycle,” said Mark Ard, marketing director for the Florida Department of State, in an email to South Florida Media Network.

Miami-Dade County has set precautions for the primary. In a press release sent out by the county on Friday afternoon, the elections department will move voters who vote at senior residential facilities to alternate locations on election day in efforts to protect the county’s senior voters.

To incentivize poll workers, those who complete their set-up and election day duties will earn an additional $100.

The Florida Department of State sent out a precaution guideline from the Center for Disease Control to all the supervisors of election across the state. The message reads for polling locations to encourage alternate voting options, such as drive-up voting.

Polling precincts will have hand sanitizers, disinfectant spray and wipes at all early voting and election day locations in the county, according to Roberto Rodriguez, assistant deputy supervisor of elections for Miami-Dade county elections department.

CDC advises poll workers to disinfect voting machines frequently, as said in the release. Voters are also encouraged to wash their hands at the bathrooms present in the locations.

Out of the almost 1.5 million registered voters in Miami-Dade county, 49, 302 MDC-registered voters have already cast their ballots, while 109, 727 people have already submitted their mail-in ballot, according to the My Florida website.

Louisiana recently postponed its April 4 presidential preference primary and other local races until June 20 in response to COVID-19. Georgia set back its March 24 primary until mid-May.

Increased sanitation and cleaning are in effect in all Miami-Dade public libraries, which make up the majority of the polling locations. Disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer and an “abundance” of hand soap will be at the disposal for voters to use.

“Every day, several times a day, we’re cleaning everything,” said Leila Khalil, spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade public library system.

CDC posters exhibiting safety measures are plastered all over the libraries for people’s awareness. Khalil says that library-goers and early voters alike have heeded the advice of the CDC and actively made use of the disinfecting products.

The spokeswoman also said that all libraries have been heavily cleaning all touchpoints, such as elevator buttons, doorknobs, computer mouses and keyboards.

“People are definitely paying attention,” said Khalil.

Perez-Milano is hoping those who show up at the polls remain proactive.

“I do believe the virus will affect voter turnout, but I hope people who do turn out take precautions to make the experience safe for everyone,” said Perez-Milano.