PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — This site is now closed for actual voting in person, now forcing officials to make changes to voting here in Charlotte County.
Early voting coming to a halt Wednesday inside The Charlotte County Historic Courthouse. The Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections says one worker tested positive for Covid-19.
The location is not completely shut down. Today poll workers were seen wearing protective gear such as face shields.
Honorable Paul A. Stamoulis, the Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections released this statement saying,
“The old courthouse remains open for voters to come into our main office and request a vote by mail ballot. They can either vote it on the spot and return it to us or take it with them and return it to us by election day, August 18th, 7 pm,” said Hon. Paul A. Stamoulis.
We also asked about the safety of poll workers across the county, he says,
“Our poll worker staffing levels are normal, and we do not anticipate closing any of our 29 voting locations at this time, “ said Stamoulis.
One voter says after hearing the news, he hopes everyone will protect themselves.
“ I don’t know if everyone that was using the polling place was masked, but that is so important. I hear so many people that are saying that’s our constitutional right, well their constitutional right is to protect us too," said Robert Page.
He says it’s our civic duty to vote and nothing should get in the way.
“That's our constitutional right too to be able to vote, to be free and feel safe doing it and if this has happened it isn’t so,” said Page.
One poll worker off-camera told me despite the partial closure, voter turnout was better than he expected.
