Coronavirus Metrics Swell, Election Officials Say Voting Is Safe

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Maryland’s coronavirus case rate is the highest it’s been since early August. The positivity rate has jumped to mid-July levels. And hospitalizations continue to rise.

With nearly 2 million Marylanders eligible to vote on Election Day, the polls could get crowded. Election and health officials, however, remain confident that the state’s precautions will keep voters safe.

“It is imperative that every eligible Marylander have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote,” Maryland State Board of Elections Administrator Linda Lamone said in a press release.

Marylanders are required to wear a mask in public places where social distancing is not possible. That means voters will have to wear a face covering when they’re inside the polls and while they’re waiting in line.

Masks will be available on Election Day, but those who break the order could be punished. One man was arrested during early voting on charges of refusing to wear a mask.

Anybody who has a medical condition or disability that keeps them from wearing a face covering can still vote. They will just use a provisional ballot and vote in a separate room to minimize potential exposure to the virus.

Of the state’s 4.1 million eligible active voters, a record 885,000 cast their ballot early. An additional 1.2 million mailed their selections. Nearly 329,000 voters still need to return their mail-in ballot.

That leaves 1.7 million voters who could head to the polls Tuesday. If Marylanders match their overall turnout rate of the 2016 presidential election, about 591,000 may cast their ballot Tuesday.

The Board of Elections warns voters that there may be long wait times. Officials suggest bringing a folding chair, a snack and a water bottle.

Lines will likely be shortest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the board advises. Election officials say they may limit the number of people inside voting centers at one time to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.

The Maryland Department of Health asks voters to stay 6 feet apart. A set of trained volunteers will help the department enforce social distancing policies.

These Health Ambassadors will work in Carroll County, Baltimore City, Harford County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Worcester County. The group will:

• Reinforce public guidance for maintaining social distance and wearing masks
• Provide guidance on how to properly wear face coverings
• Distribute masks to people who need one
• Administer hand sanitizer and disinfect high-touch areas

“Many voters are still expressing doubts about the safety of voting in person during this pandemic,” Department of Health Secretary Robert Neall said in an Oct. 26 press release. “Having volunteer Health Ambassadors onsite at the polls will help ensure that everyone is doing their part to keep Marylanders safe and healthy.”

The Department of Health’s efforts are challenged by a rising coronavirus tide. Maryland clocked its 4,000th coronavirus-related death on Saturday, and the pandemic is not slowing.

The state’s case rate is the highest since Aug. 5, averaging 13.86 new infections-per-day per 100,000 people. To date, 146,995 Marylanders have caught the virus. It has killed 4,007 residents.

The positivity rate is also up. About 3.94 percent of coronavirus tests came back positive in the last seven days. That's the highest clip since July 18.

A surge in hospitalizations rounds out the state’s key coronavirus metrics. The 529 hospitalized coronavirus patients are the most since Aug. 11.

Maryland has 133 people in the intensive care unit. The state hasn’t hit that level since Aug. 7.

With swelling metrics, some Marylanders are concerned about their health at voting centers. After eight days of early voting, the state does not yet have data that explain how the polls affect viral spread.

The Department of Health reaches out to every person who tests positive for coronavirus to track who they may have exposed. The agency said contact tracers ask patients whether they go to high-risk events, but it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where they catch the virus.

“Voting and visiting polls are not explicitly captured in our data collection system,” Department of Health spokesperson Charles Gischlar told Patch in an email. “We cannot assess whether any cases might have been infected as a result of voting or going to the polls.”

Gischlar stands by the state’s preparations. He believes “Maryland residents should be able to safely exercise their right to vote.”

Many voters agree that the polls are safe. With plexiglass dividers, sanitized pens, social distancing and a mask policy, these voters were satisfied. Even when locals faced long lines, most were pleased with the space between people.

“You shouldn't be concerned about catching the virus while voting,” said Nancy Hayden, a resident in the Edgewater-Davidsonville area. “The polls were clean, very organized and everyone was considerate to distancing themselves, while being very courteous.”

Election officials ask anybody who still has a mail-in ballot to return it to a dropbox. They warn that it is too late to guarantee timely mail delivery. Dropboxes close Tuesday at 8 p.m.

The Board of Elections will accept all ballots postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 13. The board will email voters when they process their ballot.

Polls open Tuesday at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Everybody in line by closing time has the right to vote, regardless of how long the line is or how late it gets.

A complete list of ballot dropboxes and voting locations is available here.

“Don't let anyone scare you into not voting,” Hayden said.

RELATED:

• MD Congressional Election: Incumbents Vs. Newcomers
• Early Voting Lines Were 2 Hours, Quarter-Mile Long

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