Hundreds of Chicago Voters Warned of Possible Coronavirus Exposure After Poll Worker Dies

[babylonsister]

Hundreds of Chicago Voters Warned of Possible Coronavirus Exposure After Poll Worker Dies
By Sophia Tareen / AP
April 13, 2020


(CHICAGO) — Hundreds of Chicago voters who went to the polls in last month’s primary were being notified of possible exposure to COVID-19 including from a site where a poll worker later developed symptoms and died, election officials said Monday.

Illinois was one of the first states that grappled with rescheduling its March 17 primary during the coronavirus pandemic but proceeded despite safety concerns. Days later, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a statewide stay-at-home order.

The Chicago Board of Election Commissioners was sending letters to voters who went to the polls at four locations throughout the city, spokesman Jim Allen said, with at least one more possible location. Either poll workers or voters who later tested positive were at those locations and notified the board. Election officials didn’t have an exact count but said hundreds of letters were being sent.

Chicago Board of Elections officials said a poll worker at a South Side church who used as a voting site developed symptoms days after the election and died April 1. He was a 60-year-old city employee, according to WMAQ-TV.

Illinois State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dietrich said he had not received similar reports in other parts of the state.

Allen had publicly blasted Pritzker’s office on Election Day for proceeding, but he declined to discuss it Monday.

“The important thing is to move forward with plans for November and try to plan accordingly,” he said. “That’s what’s on the mind of every election administration everywhere.”

The letters note the board “took every precaution possible” but that there was risk of exposure and advise voters to contact election officials if they test positive.

more...

https://time.com/5820398/chicago-voters-coronavirus/

[mucifer]

1. It's the law that says Gov Pritzker couldn't delay the vote. He didn't want to break the law Also:

This is NOT the same as Wisconsin. Polling places and hours were INCREASED. Mail in voting and early voting were encouraged.

It's still horrible that this happened.

I just want people to know it's not as simple as the state government not delaying the vote. Pritzker and the state legislature should have figured something out.

[AJT]

2. For just a moment I thought it was a story about a strip club....

but then....oh, poll worker not pole worker....