Docs urge Nevada voters to practice safety as early in-person voting begins, with new spike in COVID-19

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — As early in-person voting begins in Nevada, physicians urged voters to, if possible, make a plan to safely vote early in person, including practicing science-based safety precautions. The appeal came as Nevada sees a resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

“People who must vote in-person can do so safely by following science-based measures to reduce COVID-19 infections, most importantly, by wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing,” said Dr. Jay Mead, a retired pathologist in Boulder City. “Across Nevada, elections officials have stepped up to make early in-person voting locations as safe as possible and they deserve credit for putting people’s health front and center.  This is especially important as COVID-19 cases go up across the country, including in Nevada. By most indications, 2020 is expected to be a huge election turnout year, and we want to send the message that we can all do our part to take precautions so we can be safer when we vote in-person.”

To maximize safety when voting in-person, the physicians urged the following:

• All voters should wear masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
• All voters should maintain social distancing, keeping at least 6 feet away from the nearest person.
• Voters should wash their hands frequently, and practice strong personal hygiene before, during and after they go to a polling location.
• Elections officials should set up hand sanitizing stations at polling locations.
• Elections officials should keep individuals at least 6 feet apart from each other and encourage voters to wear masks. 

The physicians cited overwhelming scientific evidence for what works to reduce infections: 170-plus studies across 16 nations and six continents proved that common, simple interventions such as mask wearing and social distancing lower the risk of COVID-19 infections. 

“The science on staying safer during the COVID-19 pandemic is clear, and as physicians, we urge voters to follow the science, which is non-partisan and which applies to everyone regardless of who they vote for,” said Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, a family medicine physician practicing urgent care medicine in Reno. “Voting early is one way to help reduce lines and potential crowding on Election Day, as well as limit the number of people poll workers interact with that day. While voting by mail without leaving home may be the safest way to cast a ballot, voting in-person early is a popular option and may give voters more peace of mind that their vote is secure and will be counted regardless of potential mail delays. The majority of Nevadans are treating COVID-19 seriously, and they deserve to exercise their right as U.S. citizens to vote while minimizing risks of COVID-19 transmission.”

Early in-person voting began Oct. 17 and will run Saturday through Thursday until Oct. 30. Voters with absentee ballots can mail their ballots or drop them off at early voting sites. Because of ongoing concerns about mail delays with the U.S. Postal Service, voters are advised to mail ballots no later than 10 days before Nov. 3, which was Oct. 20.

The physicians also noted that election results may take longer to be verified due to an increase in absentee ballots, which take longer to count, and new safety precautions against COVID-19. The fact that there may be a delay means only that each vote that was cast safely early or by mail is being securely counted. 

FAST FACTS: VOTING IN NEVADA

Voters can cast their ballots early at any location in their county of residence. 

Early voting locations and secure drop boxes can be found at: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections/voters/early-voting-information 

Voters can ask for and fill out an early voting form at county election office and vote the same day.

If you’re voting in Nevada for the first time, registered to vote by mail or online, and didn’t provide ID when you registered, be sure to bring a copy of your photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or government document that shows your name and address when you vote.

###

About the Committee to Protect Medicare

The Committee to Protect Medicare is an advocacy organization made up of frontline doctors engaging in direct advocacy and communications in support of a stronger healthcare system in America. To learn more: https://committeetoprotect.org/

NOTE: The physicians above are speaking in their capacity as members of the Committee to Protect Medicare. They should be identified only as indicated in this news release. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 22, 2020
CONTACT:
Az Ibrahim, 616-227-1940, azlan@committeetoprotect.org
https://committeetoprotect.org/