COVID AND ELECTION. On April 10 and 24, 2022, the French are invited to go to the polls to elect the next President of the Republic. Even voters positive for Covid-19 can go to their polling station, without having to present proof.
On Wednesday March 30, at the end of the Council of Ministers, the government spokesperson, Gabriel Attal, had himself confirmed that it would be “possible to go and vote by being positive in the Covid-19“. Shortly after, the Ministry of the Interior published the details of the health protocol in force in the offices, on the day of the vote. Positive voters will thus be able to easily interrupt their isolation to go to their polling station. No proof of vaccination, certificate of recovery or test will be requested.”We recommend that they wear a mask for this”, however specified Gabriel Attal calling for the “individual responsibility” of each, and in accordance with the lifting of the restrictions of March 14 which put an end to the obligation to wear a mask, Place Beauvau indicates: “Wearing a mask and the rules of physical distance are not compulsory in the polling stations”. to “strongly” recommend the wearing of the accessory to positive people, contact cases at risk, symptomatic or fragile. “Surgical masks will be made available” in all polling stations on 10 and April 24, 2022. It must be said that polling institutes already fear a record abstention rate, but the fear of Covid-19 could deter some voters from going to the polls on polling days.
What is the health protocol planned in the polling stations?
The Ministry of the Interior has modeled itself on the first level of health measures to decide on the protocol to be applied in the polling stations on April 10 and 24 for the two rounds of the 2022 presidential election. the polling stations will not be bound by any obligation, here are the details of the measures:
- The presentation ofno proofsuch as “proof of vaccination, a certificate of recovery or completion of a virological test” will only be necessary to access the polling stations.
- “Wearing a mask and the rules of physical distancing are not compulsory in the polling stations”. the wearing a mask however, is highly recommended for the elderly, immunocompromised, chronically ill and fragile, as well as for their caregivers; symptomatic people; people who are at-risk contacts and people who have tested positive for covid-19, up to 7 days after their release from isolation. Note that voters wearing a mask may be asked to remove it briefly to verify their identity.
- The number of people in the polling stations will not be limited to any gauge but the poll organizers can reserve the right to regulate access. On the other hand, the entry and exit of the polling stations must be differentiated to limit promiscuity. It is specified that fragile people will be able to request priority access from outside the polling station.
- From surgical masks and hand washing points with hydroalcoholic gel will be made available voters and poll organizers. For people “participating in the organization or conduct of the ballot” self-tests will also be available.
- All the material made available to voters will be cleaned and disinfected regularly during the polls.
- Polling stations must be ventilated for ten minutes every hour or as recommended by a CO2 sensor for establishments equipped with such devices.