Workers for Lake County’s election board who do not wear masks at early voting locations across the county while on the job could face termination.
The Board of Elections and Voter Registration said Tuesday it will follow Secretary of State Connie Lawson’s recommendation that poll workers face wear masks and those who do not comply be removed from their positions. The move comes as local members fielded complaints from two voters with questions about masks in the polling places amid continuing concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
Kevin Smith, board president, said the complaint, which was filed by an immunocompromised individual with voting-related health concerns, wanted to ensure all employees at the polling place would be wearing masks after seeing someone not doing so.
“This doesn’t rise to an election law violation,” Smith said.
The complaint could be dealt with administratively. He said the complaint could be addressed as a educational opportunity for workers who would all receive a letter advising them of the election board’s policy on mask wearing on the job.
A second complaint appeared more serious as election board officials ordered an investigation by the board’s attorneys into the allegation. Smith said the second complaint, if substantiated could rise to an election law violation since it had elements of intimidation.
Lawson last week stood behind her recommendation and Friday reached out to Fountain County Clerk Paula Copenhaver, who publicly refuses to wear a mask, asking her to reconsider.
Michelle Fajman, elections board director, said the board cannot require voters to wear masks, but it can require employees to do so if wearing a mask is the department policy, which it is. The mask wearing policy applies to all employees including part-time workers hired specifically for the election.
“Employees must comply. Those who do not wish to comply, we can find other individuals to work,” Fajman said.
Board members questioned whether staff had received complaints about the polling place and staff conduct. LeAnn Angermann, assistant director, said they had, but it was not clear if the same individual was involved in other calls.
Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
