What a trip to the polls in Travis County will look like during a pandemic

Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir wants to ensure voters that November voting will be safe, and comfortable — despite COVID-19. 

AUSTIN, Texas - Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir wants to ensure voters that November voting will be safe, and comfortable — despite COVID-19.

“There are a lot of things that are going on, a lot of bad rumors a lot of scary stuff being said on social media. My advice to voters is don’t listen to the noise, tune it out and just go vote,” she said.

There are a number of new, larger polling locations this year. “It’s easier to keep voters safe, keep everything clean and sterilized,” she explained.

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FOX 7 Discussion: Voting in Texas for the 2020 election

Grace Chimene, President of the League of Women Voters of Texas, joins Rebecca Thomas on FOX 7 Austin to talk about the requirements to register to vote within the state of Texas.

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New locations include hotel ballrooms, and restaurants, like the P Terry’s in Bee Cave, where the drive-thru will remain open as voting takes place in the dining room.

Voters will be kept in socially distanced lines. When it comes time to sign in and vote, voters will be provided “a plastic covering for your finger and a popsicle stick for you to make your marks and sign in,” said DeBeauvoir.

Critics say Gov. Abbott’s recent order is voter suppression

Starting Friday, Governor Abbott's proclamation will limit Texas counties to only one mail-in ballot drop off location.

Machines will be regularly sanitized by election workers, though DeBeauvoir says no one should actually be coming in contact with them. She says they are still looking for election workers, as many older, longtime volunteers have opted out entirely, or taken on roles that involve less exposure.

Group suing Gov. Abbott over decision to close ballot drop off sites

LULAC and the Texas League of Women Voters are the groups suing the state for this decision, saying it's a political ploy to suppress voters.

“We’ve certainly learned our lesson that we need to have an extra crew already ready and already recruited and ready to go on election morning in case there are no shows.”

Anyone interested in becoming an election worker is asked to contact the Travis County Clerk's Office.

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