Masks encouraged for voting in Boone County election

BOONE COUNTY Mo. (KMIZ)

Polling places are expected to open up at 6 Tuesday morning for the August primary election, and voters are asked to bring a valid form of ID and a mask.

This year's ballot features Amendment 2 which would expand Medicaid if approved and races for party nominations for Boone County, U.S. Congressional offices and statewide offices.

Residents can find their polling place by at the city clerk's website.

According to Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon, polling places open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.

Masks are encouraged, but not required except in Columbia, and voters are asked to be mindful of social distancing.

More than 8,000 Boone County residents elected to vote absentee or by mail-in ballot this year. That's compared to the roughly 2,000 that were requested this time last year.

Officials say all poll workers will be wearing masks or face shields. There will also be social distancing posters and markings to keep people away from one another and polls will constantly be cleaned and sanitized between voters.

Drew Shattuck, a Boone County voter, says inside the Boone County Government Center, there were a handful of COVID-19 precautions.

"Everyone was wearing a mask, they had hand sanitizer, they were wiping down places after we voted, because two people were in there before me and then there's a six foot social distancing box around where you submit the balance," Shattuck said. "So everything seems very very sanitized and everyone's fully staffed to sanitize everything."

Watch ABC 17 News this morning for a live report.