In consultation with the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Secretary of State’s Office today released guidance on recommended health protocols for Texas election officials and voters in response to COVID-19.

This guidance reflects the minimum recommended health protocols to help ensure the health and safety of all voters, election office personnel, polling place workers, and poll watchers in Texas.

These recommendations are not a limit on the health protocols that individuals may adopt, and individuals are encouraged to adopt additional protocols consistent with their specific needs and circumstances to help protect the health and safety of all Texans.

   CHECKLIST FOR VOTERS

The following are the minimum recommended health protocols for all voters in Texas. These minimum health protocols are not a limit on the health protocols that individuals may adopt. Individuals are encouraged to adopt additional protocols consistent with their specific needs and circumstances to help protect the health and safety of all Texans.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to others by infected persons who have few or no symptoms. To mitigate this threat, everyone should rigorously follow the practices specified in these protocols, all of which facilitate a safe and measured reopening of Texas.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities. We should continue to undertake practices that protect our communities.

Please note, public health guidance cannot anticipate every unique situation. Individuals should stay informed and take actions based on common sense and wise judgment that will protect health and support economic revitalization.

HEALTH PROTOCOLS FOR VOTERS

   To the extent feasible, maintain at least six feet separation from other individuals at the polling In addition to practicing such distancing when feasible, other measures such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation should be rigorously practiced.

  Self-screen before going to a polling place for any of the following, new or worsening signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19:

  Cough
  Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  Chills
  Repeated shaking with chills
  Muscle pain
  Headache
  Sore throat
  Loss of taste or smell
  Diarrhea
  Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
  Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19

  Voters who exhibit any of the above-mentioned symptoms associated with COVID-19 when they arrive at a polling location may want to consider utilizing curbside voting, to the extent they meet the eligibility requirements, which is available at all polling These voters should contact their county election office with questions about the curbside voting process in their county and the eligibility requirements.

  Voters should consider bringing their own marking instruments such as a pen, pencil with eraser, or stylus to use when checking-in to vote and for marking their ballot. Voters should contact their county election office to determine what type of marking devices are appropriate to use for the ballots in their country.

  Upon entering a polling place, wash or disinfect hands. Wash or disinfect hands after any interaction with election workers, poll watchers, or other individuals at the polling place and after using voting system equipment or marking a ballot.

  Voters should bring their own hand sanitizer into the polling location and should use hand sanitizer to disinfect their hands after leaving the polling location.

  Consistent with the actions taken by many individuals across the state, consider wearing cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth) when entering the polling place, or when within six feet of another person who is not a member of the individual’s household. If available, individuals should consider wearing non-medical grade face masks.

  If the election judge is not able to determine the identity of a voter wearing a face covering, the voter should be prepared to lower or remove their face covering when checking-in at a polling place. After the voter’s identity has been confirmed, the voter should wear their face covering through the rest of the voting process.

   If a voter contracts COVID-19 (or other sickness or physical condition that prevents the voter from appearing at the polling place on election day without a likelihood of needing personal assistance or of injuring the voter’s health) after the deadline to submit an application for a ballot by mail, the voter should contact their county election officer for more details about submitting an Application for Emergency Early Voting Ballot Due to Sickness or Physical Disability.

  Individuals aged 65 or older are at a higher risk of COVID-19. To the extent possible, avoid contact within six feet with individuals aged 65 and older. Individuals aged 65 and older should stay at home as much as possible. Such individuals may consider submitting an Application for a Ballot by Mail to their county election officer so that they can receive a blank ballot and return their voted ballot by mail.

HEALTH PROTOCOLS FOR ELECTIONS

  Checklist For Elections

The following are the minimum recommended health protocols for all elections in Texas. County election officers may adopt additional protocols consistent with their specific needs and circumstances to help protect the health and safety of all voters, office personnel, polling place workers, and poll watchers. Any such protocols also must be consistent with ensuring and maintaining the integrity of the election process.

The virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to others by infected persons who have few or no symptoms. To mitigate this threat, everyone should rigorously follow the practices specified in these protocols, all of which facilitate a safe and measured reopening of Texas. The virus that causes COVID-19 is still circulating in our communities. We should continue to undertake practices that protect our communities.

Please note, public health guidance cannot anticipate every unique situation. As always, election officials should also be mindful of federal and state employment and disability laws, workplace safety standards, and accessibility standards to address the needs of election personnel, polling place workers, poll watchers, and voters.

Health Protocols For Serving Voters

   Encourage voters, office personnel, polling place workers, and poll watchers to follow the Texas Department of State Health Services health protocols, including maintaining at least six feet separation from other individuals not within the same household. In addition to encouraging the practice of such distancing when feasible, other measures such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation should be rigorously practiced.

   Encourage voters to wear cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth) when entering the polling place, or when within six feet of another person who is not a member of the individual’s If available, individuals should consider wearing non-medical grade face masks.

   Provide varied voting opportunities for voters by utilizing available early voting locations, extended voting hours, weekend hours, and well-advertised curbside voting.

   Provide updated information on the local election website regarding early voting schedules and voting procedures.

   Disinfect any items that come into contact with voters such as check-in tables, writing utensils, voting system equipment, ballot boxes, and doors leading into and out of the polling place.

Health Protocols For Your Polling Places

   Train all office personnel and polling place workers on appropriate cleaning and disinfection, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette.

  Screen employees and polling place workers before coming into a polling place:

  Send home any employee or polling place worker who has any of the following new or worsening signs or symptoms of possible COVID-19:

  Cough
  Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  Chills
  Repeated shaking with chills
  Muscle pain
  Headache
  Sore throat
  Loss of taste or smell
  Diarrhea
  Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
  Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19

  Do not allow employees or polling place workers with new or worsening signs or symptoms listed above to return to a polling place or election office until:

In the case of an employee or polling place worker who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to work when all three of the following criteria are met: at least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications), and the individual has improvement in symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath); and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared; or

In the case of an employee or polling place worker who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the individual may not return to work until the individual has completed the same three-step criteria listed above; or

 If an employee or polling place worker has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to work before completing the above self-isolation period, the individual must obtain a medical professional’s note clearing the individual for the return based on an alternative diagnosis.

  Do not allow employees or polling place workers with known close contact to a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19 to return to work until the end of the 14-day self-quarantine period from the last date of exposure (with an exception granted for healthcare workers and critical infrastructure workers).

  Have employees and polling place workers wash or sanitize their hands upon entering the election office or polling place, and between interactions with voters or other personnel.

  Have employees and polling place workers maintain at least six feet separation from other individuals when In addition to encouraging the practice of such distancing when feasible, other measures such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation should be rigorously practiced.

  Consistent with the actions taken by many businesses across the state, consider having all employees and polling place workers wear cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth) at all times. If available, employees and polling place workers should consider wearing non- medical grade face masks.

  If a polling place worker is serving as an assistant to a voter, the polling place worker should wear a face covering while providing assistance. Polling place workers should also wash or sanitize their hands after completing the assistance.

  If a polling place worker is processing a curbside voter, the polling place worker should wear a face covering while interacting with the voter. Polling place workers should also wash or sanitize their hands after completing their curbside voting duties.

Health Protocols For Poll Watchers

   To the extent feasible, poll watchers should maintain at least six feet of separation from other individuals not within the same household. In addition to practicing such distancing when feasible, other measures such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation should be rigorously practiced.

  Consistent with the actions taken by many individuals across the state, poll watchers should consider wearing face coverings (over the nose and mouth) when entering the polling place, or when within six feet of another person who is not a member of the individual’s If available, individuals should consider wearing non-medical grade face masks.

Health Protocols For Your Polling Places

   Provide markings on the floor of the polling place that allows voters to maintain a six feet separation from other individuals not within the same In addition to encouraging the practice of such distancing when feasible, other measures such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation should be rigorously practiced.

  Election workers are not required to ask a voter to remove their face covering upon check-in. However, if an election judge is not able to determine the voter’s identity while wearing a face covering, the election judge has the discretion to ask the voter to lower or remove their face covering. The voter should be permitted to wear their face covering through the rest of the voting process after their identity has been confirmed.

  Arrange voting stations to allow voters to maintain at least six feet of separation from other voters.

   Block off frequently touched items of the facility that are not being utilized as a part of the polling place to prevent the spreading of germs between parties.

  Regularly and frequently clean and disinfect any regularly touched surfaces, such as doorknobs, tables, writing utensils, chairs, handrails, and restrooms.

  Disinfect any items that come into contact with voters after such contact.

  Make hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap, and water, or similar disinfectant readily available to polling place workers and voters.

  Place readily visible signage at the polling place to remind everyone of best hygiene practices.

  For facilities that experience high voting traffic, consider having a polling place worker wholly or partially dedicated to ensuring the recommended health protocols are successfully implemented and followed.