Ellis Co. polls open with social distancing, sanitation in place

An Ellis County voter submits her identification to a poll worker at the Hays Recreation Center Tuesday morning prior to receiving her ballot. (Photos by Becky Kiser)

Ellis County poll workers are protected by Plexiglass

Voters are using pens provided by poll workers to mark their ballots in ink. The pens, which have an electronic stylus on the other end for signing their ballots, are kept by voters.

Each surface touched by voters and poll workers is sanitized every hour.

By Jonathan Zweygardt and Becky Kiser
Hays Post

Ellis County voters heading to the polls for today's Kansas primary election will see some changes at their voting locations due to the coronavirus.

According to election officer and clerk Donna Maskus, hand sanitizer stations are available.

"We've done our best to put six feet between each voting booth," Maskus says, and there is Plexiglas protecting the workers."

Every location set up in the polling area is "wiped down and sanitized each hour," says Sandra Bainter, a poll worker at the Hays Recreation Center.

Each voter is given their own pen to sign in with electronically and then mark their ballot with ink. The pens are then kept by the voter.

Although there is a face mask requirement in the city of Hays through August 31, voters cannot be turned away from polling stations for not wearing a face covering, according to Secretary of State Scott Schwab.

Polls in Ellis County are open until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

For candidate profiles of the contested local races in Ellis County, click here.

Check back with Hays Post for election results tonight as they become available.