COVID-19 stops work release/election day gatherings
The fallout from the restrictions imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 keeps raining down. It’s impacting both election day activities and the county’s work-release program.
Due to restrictions put in place by the Ohio Department of Corrections prisoners held at the STAR Community Justice center won’t be able to participate in road clean-ups. The use of inmates in work-release will also be curtailed. A single employee of LSSWM will maintain recycle bins and no large dump or roadside cleanups are possible. If anyone would like to volunteer to help, they can call 740-532-1231.
Also in search of volunteers is the State of Ohio. They desperately need poll workers. Older people, who normally make up a large percentage of poll workers, were advised by Governor Mike DeWine to stay home and self-isolate because they are at greater risk from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. The state asked younger people to step up and take their place on election day and since Tuesday, 1,2000 have already answered the call statewide. If you’d like to sign up, click here to fill out the form.
To help keep voters safe, county boards of elections will be reimbursed for the purchase of sanitizer, disinfectants, disinfecting or antibacterial wipes, disposable gloves, rubbing alcohol or isopropyl, or any other sanitizing materials necessary to help keep polling places clean and germ-free on election day.
The Scioto County Courthouse is skipping the traditional practice of candidates and citizens gathering in the rotunda to watch election results. The courthouse will be open as usual on election day.
After voting is finished for the day, election results will be displayed on a screen in the rotunda but only the candidate and one person of their choice will be permitted to remain after the courthouse closes at 7:30 pm. The candidate and their plus one must report to the Scioto County Courthouse public entrance no later than 7:30 p.m.
The press can attend but must enter the building by 7:30 pm and present ID to security. The election results will be streamed LIVE on the Scioto County Commissioners’ Facebook page as they are reported by the Scioto County Board of Elections.
In a statement on their Facebook page, the commissioners said, “We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause for the citizens of Scioto County, Ohio; however, in an effort to protect our citizens, we feel this is a necessary course of action. We would like to thank everyone for their cooperation during this pandemic If you should have any questions or concerns, please contact the Scioto County Board of Elections at 740-353-4178, the Scioto County Board of Commissioners at 740-354-8807 or Shawn Davis at 740-529-2008.”
The Ohio Board of Elections says despite school closings, polling places at schools will be open.