Reps. Sweeney and Galonski call for hygiene plan to be implemented during elections

COLUMBUS –State Representatives Tavia Galonski (D-Akron) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) sent a letter today to Secretary of State Frank LaRose encouraging the implementation of a statewide hygiene plan for polling places to follow during the upcoming general election.  In the letter, Galonski and Sweeney suggested that LaRose should provide health guidelines for polling places, including:

1. The sanitization practices that must be implemented at polling places (ex. wiping down high touch surfaces, making hand sanitizer available, etc.);

2. Strict social distancing requirements;

3. Requiring voters and workers to wear face coverings;

a. Making masks available in the event that someone does not have one;

b. Having a standard protocol for those not able to wear masks so that they can vote safely and without putting others at risk;

4. Encouraging curb side voting and absentee voting.

“Ohio voters should not have to decide between their health and casting a vote,” Galonski said.

“Every single voter deserves to know that they can cast a ballot without risking their health,” said Sweeney. “Anything less than a binding directive with standard protocols leaves room for voter disenfranchisement and the endangerment of poll workers.”

Their suggestions come after a confusing primary election that caused the Health Director to suspend in-person voting due to high risk of spreading COVID-19.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Letter attached.

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Reps. Sweeney and Galonski call for hygiene plan to be implemented during elections (PDF)