We have the power to make a better Election Day

We are now less than two months away from an election that gets more heated every day.

While the candidates debate the issues, there is one matter within local control — the safety of our polling places.

We would like to urge our area counties to consider increasing COVID-19 precautions at our polling places on Nov. 3, both for the health of the poll workers and for those who will come to participate in a great American tradition.

We want everyone to feel his or her voice can be heard on Election Day, and doing that means making sure everyone feels safe.

This could mean enforcing social distancing requirements by having voting areas set up to require a six-foot distance between those casting ballots.

And it could mean handing out masks at the door to anyone without one and asking that they wear a face covering for the 15 minutes or so it will likely take to receive, fill out and cast their ballot.

On any other day, a resident who has health concerns about being around those not wearing masks could pick another grocery store or another day to complete their tasks.

But on this day, hundreds of residents will need to go to their specific polling place at specific times.

Yes, absentee voting can be done, but for a variety of reasons, that may not be an option some residents feel comfortable with this year.

We need to take as many steps as possible to help anyone who would like to vote in person, feel safe doing so.

A few moments wearing a mask is a very small discomfort compared to the many great sacrifices that have been made to allow us to vote. It is a courtesy we can give to our neighbors on Election Day.

The state took steps in August to ensure counties had protective equipment — the secretary of state delivered 17,000 face masks, 17,000 face shields, 500 gallons of sanitizer, 40,000 floor strips for physical distancing and 16,000 posters that encourage six feet of distance between voters. The secretary of state has also shipped additional masks to counties that requested them.

If we have the ability to do this one small thing, for just a small part of an important day, then we should, and our county leaders need to participate fully in setting safety standards for the polling places.

We know masks are something many have considered important to safety, including Butler County Courthouse officials, who put a mask requirement in place after courthouse employees began testing positive for COVID-19.

We’re now asking that the same consideration be extended to voters on Election Day.