Scope
The Department of Medical and Public Health Services, as part of a series of guidelines to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, urges election officials to implement the following protective measures.
Note that for the purposes of applying this guidance, election workers are defined as all personnel who come into contact with voters or places visited by voters in the context of an election. These measures should be regarded as the minimum that should apply. The Chief Electoral Officer may, depending on the conditions prevailing during the election process, impose additional measures for the protection of voters and employees, if necessary.
It is also important that the management of the election process define roles and responsibilities for staff so that the dissemination and circulation of information is implemented effectively (e.g. if a staff member falls ill, management should be informed immediately) and also that staff are aware of the actions in which they should be involved. The use of air conditioning is permitted provided that a continuous and adequate supply of fresh air is ensured, either by the use of mechanical systems or by natural regular ventilation of the area.
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Employees and representatives of candidates must necessarily wear a protective mask at all times while in the polling station.
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Recommendation that protective masks be worn by all voters inside polling stations
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Existence, in a prominent position at the entrances and exits (where applicable) of polling stations, a bottle of alcohol solution (with infusion pump and base) for hand hygiene for the use of voters.
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The polling booths will not be curtained and it will be the responsibility of the centre staff to regularly disinfect them, as well as all surfaces with which voters and staff come into contact and pens.
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The disinfection of voters' hands when entering and leaving the polling station is mandatory.
Staff hygiene
All polling station employees and candidate representatives are recommended to undergo a rapid antigen detection diagnostic test (self-test) for COVID19 the day before the election.
- Written instructions and training on how to spread COVID-19 should be made available by election management to staff so that they are aware of the symptoms of COVID-19 and are able to recognize them in a timely manner. The aim is to be able to seek appropriate medical attention and laboratory testing and to minimise the risk of infection to both the public and other workers.
- All personnel working in the election process should have training on precautions:
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Personal protection rules
Respiratory hygiene (in case of coughing or sneezing, cover the nose and mouth with a tissue which is disposed of directly in the waste. If this is not available, cover the mouth and nose with the inside of the elbow),
avoiding hand contact with the eyes, nose and mouth to reduce the risk of viral infection,
frequent hand hygiene especially after contact with respiratory secretions, before eating and after using the toilet (hand hygiene includes either cleaning hands with soap and water or rubbing hands with an alcohol solution, rubbing with an alcohol solution is preferable when hands are not visibly soiled, washing hands with soap and water especially when visibly soiled).
- Personnel exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 should refrain from work and contact their personal physician immediately by telephone. If symptoms occur during work, the employee should leave work immediately. Such personnel may exercise their right to vote before leaving.
- Election management will make arrangements for ongoing monitoring of personnel regarding possible onset of related symptoms.
- An effort will be made to have staff work in permanently constituted teams so as to reduce the likelihood of spreading the virus in the event of an outbreak.
- A recommendation will be made to persons who may be in vulnerable groups not to work at the election.
Organisation of election venues[/U]
- Before the elections, in order to inform election staff of any gatherings to be held, these should be held with the minimum number of people and should be governed by personal protection measures.
- During the election process, it should be ensured that access to polling stations is conducted without overcrowding and confusion.
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A geographical dispersion of polling stations (e.g.
It should be ensured that all access points to polling stations are open.
- Avoid using polling stations that are accessible by lift.
- Mandatory dispersal of voters during access to the centre and avoid unnecessary loitering.
- Posters/instructions on personal hygiene.
- Disinfecting booths and equipment at regular intervals.
- There will be unobtrusive availability of antiseptic at the entrance to polling stations, toilets and other prominent places.
- The use of air conditioners is permitted provided that a continuous and adequate supply of fresh air is ensured either by the use of mechanical systems or by natural regular ventilation of the premises.
Practices during the conduct of elections[/U]
- Efforts should be made to ensure that the minimum number of people remain inside the centre. Voters should wait outside
- To keep to a minimum both in number and time the presence inside the centres of any observers acting on behalf of candidates and any visits by candidates/party officials
- Staff should limit to the extent possible conversation with voters and with each other to the bare minimum.
- Suggestion for layout and assignment of duties
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The person handling the voter list (1) sits next to (to the left) of the person (2) who will cast the ballots.
Upon entering the Center, the voter proceeds to the person (1) handling the voter list. The person (2) sitting next to him is given a pen to sign the list and asks him to vote with the same pen. (Pen comes from box A)
After the voter has signed the list he is given the ballot paper by person 2.
Then the voter signs the list and, holding the same pen, proceeds to the voting booth.
It is recommended that persons 1 and 2 disinfect their hands.
After marking his/her choice, he/she exits the canopy and places the ballot paper in the ballot box and the pen in box B.
When the voter exits, the canopy used by the voter to mark his/her choice is disinfected.
During the sorting and counting of votes, hands shall be disinfected frequently.
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No food/drinks shall be consumed inside the Center (this requires removal of the mask).
Cleaning and decontamination
- Cleaning staff shall be trained in the appropriate cleaning and decontamination procedure regarding COVID-19 coronavirus. The appropriate documents posted in the "Guidelines for addressing the impact of coronavirus in workplaces" section of the Office of Press and Information website shall be used for this purpose - https:/www.pio.gov.cy/coronavirus/categories/info
- Thorough and frequent cleaning and disinfection of common items.
- Soap and paper dispensers in restrooms to ensure that soap and paper towels are always available, checked frequently for proper operation and cleaned frequently.
- Supply the latrines with liquid soap, disposable hand towels (to be disposed of in foot-powered bins near the sinks), and antiseptic alcohol solution (70% alcohol content). The plastic bags of the bins, when full, must be tied tightly and removed immediately. After use, gloves should be immediately disposed of in the plastic bags of the waste bins and no attempts should be made to clean them, e.g. washing disposable gloves and reusing them.
- In addition to the routine cleaning of latrines, frequent cleaning of frequently used smooth surfaces (e.g. knobs, handles, handrails of stairs or railings, switches, taps, elevator buttons, etc.) with common cleaning agents, i.e. liquid soap and water, or a solution of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite at a concentration of 0.1%), or hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of 0.5%, or an alcoholic antiseptic (70% ethanol). Note that cleaning operations should be carried out using gloves and appropriate work clothing.
Consumables
Care must be taken to ensure that sufficient consumables to prevent infections are readily available in polling stations at all times:
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liquid soap
alcohol-based hand cleaning solution (70% ethanol)
tissues
protective face masks.
trash bags
liquid surface cleaning detergents
boxes marked A & B for pen placement.
Delivery of polling stations
At the end of the electoral process, the rooms used as polling stations should be naturally ventilated for at least half an hour and disinfected.
(AF)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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