New changes voters can see for Tuesday’s Presidential Primaries in Delaware due to COVID-19
DELAWARE- For Tuesday’s Presidential Primaries, we are told there are many new changes that the voting community will see in Delaware, and many of those changes have to do with COVID-19.
” There’s some changes that might disturb people, I see everything as good I have the up most confidence what we’re doing tomorrow,” Ken McDowell, Director of Sussex Board of Elections, said.
McDowell said people can expect social distancing and mask wearing guidelines to be implemented along with other new policies to ensure everyone stays safe.
“There’s 24 locations where there used to be 73 locations, it works out about one per town, and we were hoping our absentees would take care of the slack,” McDowell said.
He also adds that during this time they have sent out about 22,000 absentee ballots.
McDowell said this is more than they did in 2016, which was 2,000 absentee ballots.
“We were hoping 99 percent of the people will vote absentee, so they couldn’t get exposed, but we’ll see after tomorrow night how many show up,” McDowell said.
On top of the absentee ballots, this year people have the opportunity to vote by mail after Governor John Carney signed House Bill 346 Wednesday.
Some people in the community said this type of voting may cause issues.
“Well it’s not a good idea and we know it and it’s so easy to steal an election that way,” Don Ayotee, State Chairman of the Independent Party Delaware, said.
“In theory, it’s great, but again we all have seen all of the examples of voter fraud,” Michael Oxbrough, owner of Cafe on the Circle, said.
We are told despite things looking different this year, people think the community should still get out and vote in whatever fashion they can.
“Well I think it’s important to vote, especially on an absentee ballot or if you wanna go to the polls, but get out and vote, Ayotee said.
We are told voting will begin at 7 AM and the polls will close at 8 PM.
The director also told me that he thinks at least 20,000 people will still show up to vote.
