Municipal election still faces COVID-19 challenges after being postponed
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Boone County clerk said Tuesday that municipal elections could still have issues after they were postponed because of COVID-19.
Brianna Lennon said the coronavirus pandemic has caused a decrease in the number of polling locations and that it contributed to having fewer poll workers.
Lennon said some regular polling locations will be closed during the June 2 election because of COVID-19. She said 45 polls are usually open, however, just 38 will be available. Lennon said other locations will also be closed because of scheduling conflicts.
Multiple locations catering to seniors such as Lenoir Woods in Columbia and the Ashland Senior Center are among regular locations that had to close.
Lennon said the polling place at Oak Tower has been moved across the street to the City of Refuge building on Sexton Road.
A release from the clerk's office Monday said Columbia Public Schools and Southern Boone School District buildings will be used as polling places.
Lennon said the county is looking for more poll workers with the election less than a month away.
"We're pushing really hard to have more workers," Lennon said. "We're going to need quite a bit."
As of Tuesday, Lennon couldn't say how many more workers would be needed for the election. She said Boone County normally needs extra workers for each election and that COVID-19 has added to the problem.
According to the clerk's release, election judges will be given personal protective equipment such as masks and face shields. The release said hand sanitizer will be available at the polls.
The deadline to register for the municipal election was March 11. Lennon said voters have until May 20 to apply for an absentee ballot. Voters may receive an absentee application in the mail along with a sample ballot, or the application can be filled out online, the release said.
Voters can apply for an absentee ballot if they have been ordered to self-quarantine or are following COVID-19 orders.
The release said social distancing guidelines will be in place at the polls.
