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2020 Presidential Election in COVID filled world By: Julia Leitner '23

The 2020 presidential election, between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, is one that is at very high stakes, distressing many people across the country. The need to vote is being preached all the way from social media, to news outlets. Yet it is not to forget that Covid-19 is still a risk. Due to this, the traditional voting process has been altered to ensure maximum safety. Absentee and mail-in ballots were accepted up until Nov. 3, and all in person voters voted on Nov.3, 2020. The polls in Connecticut were open from six in the morning, to eight at night.

Below are pictures of what went down on Election Day 2020.

The Westport Town Hall, on Myrtle Avenue, supplied applications for absentee ballots, as well as an area to drop the applications and ballots off. Along with this, the Westport Town Hall allowed for voters that missed their registration deadlines to register on election day at their facilities.

The amount of absentee/mail in voters has almost doubled in numbers from the 2016 presidential election to this year. Many people have resorted to this method of voting to avoid putting themselves at risk regarding the Coronavirus. People felt more comfortable mailing their ballots, than attending a poll in person.
Yet, at the polls, volunteers were doing all that they could to guarantee that all voters were following safety protocols. This was done by providing gloves for voters, as well as plastic bags to put their identification inside of. Volunteers maintained their spots at these stations for the duration of the polling,in an effort to restrict the spread of germs.
Reminders to social distance and wear a mask were placed all around the inside and outside of voting polls. While I was there, the lines were minimal, but six feet reminders were in place in preparation for long lines.
Although there were Covid restrictions put in place, many people wanted to continue to get their voices heard with their normal campaign activities that they enjoy. These women continued to attempt at making their democratic influence on people entering Coleytown Elementary School to vote. But, they did it from a distance, and with masks.
Signs like so have been placed all over Westport for people to demonstrate their political affiliations prior to the election. Yet these were also everywhere at voting stations, in an attempt to make one last influence on people, before they make their final decisions.

All photos by Julia Leitner '23

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Julia Leitner
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