Bowser Pushes For More Polling Places To Open In D.C. For November's Election
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed a bill that would require at least 80 polling places be open for the November election, though she says she would rather see the D.C. Board of Elections open all 144 polling places that are used during normal election cycles.
In a letter to the D.C. Council outlining the bill, Bowser said the elections board did not open enough polling places for the June 2 primary, resulting in “unacceptably long lines.” She added that by opening more polling places in November, the city would be able to “ensure maximum voter turnout and that all District residents can exercise their constitutional right to vote without substantial hindrances.”
But Bowser’s proposal conflicts with a plan that the elections board, which operates independently, approved last week. Under that plan, there would be 40 polling places open for early and day-of voting, double the amount used for the primary election. Every registered voter would also be sent a ballot in the mail, instead of having to request them as they did ahead of the primary, and drop boxes would be placed around the city.
Election officials say that opening all 144 polling places during what could be an still-ongoing pandemic would be impossible and irresponsible, largely because so many poll workers are elderly and could be put at risk, but also because many of those polling places are in locations like churches and senior centers that aren’t currently open to the public — and may not be in November.
Instead, they are contemplating having the 40 polling places in larger spaces to better allow for social distancing, and even considering opening a number of “super vote centers” in facilities like the Washington Convention Center or an arena where many voters could cast ballots with a relatively small number of staff and poll workers on hand. This week, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics, offered the Capital One Arena as a possible site for a super vote center.
https://dcist.com/story/20/07/24/bowser-pushes-for-more-polling-places-to-open-in-d-c-for-novembers-election/
