As the coronavirus pandemic continues to bring on unexpected changes to voting, organizations and community groups across the country are stepping up to ensure US citizens can cast their ballot this November.
While the nation is gearing up to vote by mail — a process that is expected to bring substantial waves of voters — the option to vote at a physical polling site is still considered viable in most states. Polls show that voters strongly support vote by mail, but Americans in favor of President Donald Trump, who has been rallying against mail-in voting, have said they prefer in-person voting.
Many locations that traditionally functioned as polling sites, like schools and nursing homes, are unlikely to serve as such this year due to the potential to spread the virus. In an attempt to facilitate voters who want to cast a ballot in person, various community groups and organizations are offering up their establishments as unconventional voting locations.
In-person voting booths will also be spread out to accommodate social distancing, a practice recommended by health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And to limit the spread of the coronavirus at these in-person locations, election officials across the country have ordered personal protective equipment like masks and hand sanitizers in bulk to distribute to voters and poll monitors.
From sports arenas and gyms to libraries and local pizzerias, here is a list of venues that plan to serve as polling sites this November.