COVID AND ELECTION. On April 24, 2022, the French are called to vote in the second round of the presidential election. Voters positive for Covid-19 can go to the polls without proof. Find the details of the sanitary measures in the polling stations.
In times of health crisis and when people with Covid-19 still have to respect an isolation of at least five days, it is legitimate to wonder about the possibility for these virus-positive voters to vote in the presidential election. Fortunately, they were able to go to the polls on April 10 and they can still do so this Sunday, April 24, the decisive day before knowing the name of the President of the Republic for the next five years. On site, a light health protocol is put in place, the wearing of a mask is not compulsory, in accordance with the lifting of the restrictions of March 14, but “strongly recommended” according to the indications of Place Beauvau. Since March 30, details of the health rules to be observed in polling stations have been available on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
If some are still wondering how to justify the interruption of isolation, know that it is not necessary. No proof of vaccination, certificate of recovery or test is requested to enter the polling station or by one of the assessors when depositing the ballot in the ballot box. To meet all prevention instructions, surgical masks and hydroalcoholic gel are made available. With this protocol, positive people can come and vote without difficulty and all other voters, reassured by the respect of barrier gestures, are not deterred from going to the polling stations. This is an important issue in the organization of the ballot when the abstention rate is feared.
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 24 for the second of the 2022 presidential election. Voters going to the polling stations are not bound by any obligation, here are the details of the measures:
- No justification is necessary to enter the polling stations. The presentation of “proof of vaccination, a certificate of recovery or completion of a virological test” cannot be required by the organizers of the ballot and/or assessors.
- “Wearing a mask and the rules of physical distancing are not compulsory in the polling stations”. If there is no obligation, the pout of the mask remains highly recommended for the elderly, immunocompromised, chronically ill and frail, as well as for their caregivers. Symptomatic people, those considered to be at-risk contact cases and people who have tested positive for covid-19, up to 7 days after their release from isolation are also affected by the ministry’s recommendation. Note that voters wearing a mask may be asked to remove it briefly to verify their identity.
- Polling stations are not subject to no gauge but the poll organizers may reserve the right to regulate access to the premises.
- The entry and exit of polling stations must be differentiated to limit promiscuity. The health protocol specifies that fragile people can request priority access from outside the polling station.
- From surgical masks will be made available and hand washing points with hydroalcoholic gel must be installed in all polling stations. For people “participating in the organization or conduct of the ballot” self-tests are also 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.