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What Monroe County Voters Should Expect At The Polls

Most voters stand in line for an average of 60 to 90 minutes.
Most voters stand in line for an average of 60 to 90 minutes.

One Indiana clerk made headlines this week after refusing to enforce the governor’s mask mandate at polling stations, but what can Monroe County voters expect when going to the polls?

County Clerk Nicole Browne said Monroe County voters should feel safe at in-person but anticipate a wait.

“I’m incredibly proud to be able to deliver a safe election, and I can only do that if my employees and myself are setting the example,” she said.

READ MORE:  Ask The Mayor: Bloomington's Hamilton On Long Early Voting Lines, COVID Case Increases

According to Browne, Gov. Holcomb and the Indiana Election Division said clerks cannot force voters to wear a mask, but her staff will wear either a mask or face shield and gloves when handling ballots.

The CDC does not recommend using face shields as a substitute for masks.

Other safety precautions listed on MonroeCountyvoters.us include sneeze guards, equipment disinfection after every use, social distancing and more. Due to social distancing, lines have stretched down the street while voters wait to reach the polls.

“We’re no different than any other place in the country — except that we’re not Georgia. You’re not going to be in line for 11 hours” Browne said. “You should anticipate about an hour.”

For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page  here.

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Lane Wolf is a digital news reporter for WFIU/WTIU News and specializes in social media. Originally from Larwill, Ind., he graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor's degree in Media in 2020.