Palettes of stacked boxes full of protective gear and other items outline the Old Mississippi Trademart Center in Jackson. The state has teamed up with the Army National Guard to deliver boxes to each county's circuit clerk who will then distribute supplies among local polling precincts.
Secretary of State Michael Watson says these items were purchased from Mississippi vendors using CARES Act money from the federal government to help create a safe environment on Election Day.
"You'll see hand sanitizers, you can see here you'll see gloves, you'll see face masks, you'll see pens and styluses depending on how you vote. If it's a touch screen machine or if it's on a paper ballot" said Watson. "Making sure that individuals do not have to share pens. You're going to see additional poll workers to clean the machines, to clean doorknobs, to clean high touch surfaces to make sure, again, that Mississippians are safe when they go vote.
Watson says poll workers will be required to wear masks. He says there will also be an isolated tent outside of each precinct for voters who may be positive for the virus or awaiting test results.
During his most recent press conference, Governor Tate Reeves allowed the statewide mask mandate to expire. But he's encouraging voters in Mississippi to wear a mask when they go to the polls.
"We certainly plan to, again, make sure that people can go to the polls, they can vote, they can do it safely," said Reeves. "That has happened countless numbers of times over the last several months in our state and I'm fully confident that on Election Day in early November, that will be the case."
Reeves says recent special elections have not resulted in a spread of COVID-19 infections.
