Older adults are consistently one of the most active voting blocks in the United States. Time and time again, individuals who are 65+ have had massive impacts on the most important elections of our era. Usually, making your voice heard is as simple as showing up at your polling location. However, this is an Election Day unlike any other.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, older adults need to use extreme caution when voting in person this year. Doing so is an important part of keeping both yourself and the ones you love safe. Keep reading to learn what you can do to vote in person safely this year.
The single most impactful thing that you can do to protect yourself while voting in person is to wear a mask. The science is clear: masks have been proven to slow the spread of Covid-19. Wearing one while voting will enable you to make your voice heard without putting your health at risk. Of course, wearing a mask isn’t the only thing that you can do to protect yourself on Election Day.
It won’t always be possible, but try to stay six feet away from others as much as you can during the voting process. Doing so will keep you out of the range that the Covid-19 virus can be transmitted, thus protecting your health and the health of those around you.
When you vote, you’re going to be touching some things that many other people before you have touched. If you sanitize your hands after touching these things, then you can kill any viruses that you may encounter before they can infect you. It’s another easy way that you can keep yourself safe this Election Day.
Polling stations are always going to be crowded on election day. However, there are certain times that are busier than others. For example, avoid going early in the morning or after 5:00 pm, as these are the times that most working adults will try to vote.
Older adults who are already retired will have the benefit of being able to vote at the time of day that their polling place has the least amount of traffic. Doing so will limit the number of people that you’re exposed to and reduce the amount of time that you’re exposed to them.
Many states allow voters to drop off their ballots at a physical location instead of mailing it. For the majority of states, drop boxes are available 24 hours a day leading up to Election Day—Tuesday, November 3. The cutoff time varies by state, but is generally at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. Make sure to check your county/state’s website for more information about your official drop off rules and locations, or by visiting this website.
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Because voting in person can be a risky activity, it’s a good idea for older adults to spend some time familiarizing themselves with their health care plans. Doing so will help you create an action plan in the event that you do get exposed to a virus.
If you have Medicare health insurance, consider reaching out to a partnered licensed agent at Time for 65. Our partnered licsened agents are Medicare experts who can tell you more about your plan and what you can use it for. You can reach one today by either filling out this form or giving us a call. Regardless, we wish you all of the best while voting in person this year.
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