Racine checking early-voters' temperatures, taking other safety precautions

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The City of Racine is encouraging all voters to vote absentee.

Registered Racine voters can vote absentee through the mail, but if they want to do it in person they can vote at City Hall, where the city is taking several steps to ensure voter health and safety.

Early voters are being greeted by health care workers who will take the voters’ temperature and ask them about symptoms before allowing them inside to vote.

The Mayor of Racine says if they determine the voter has a fever or symptom, the resident can still vote curbside from their car.

“It’s just an extra level of protection that our public health administrator thought would help make sure that we’re not admitting people in City Hall that might have symptoms already,” Mayor Cory Mason said.

Racine City Clerk Tara Coolidge says all of Racine’s city employees are also checking their temperature daily.

If admitted inside to vote, squares on the floor are used for social distancing and the City Clerk says they also have a full-time cleaning staff making their rounds of the building.

City Hall is open for in person, early absentee voting weekdays until Friday, April 3 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturday April 4 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The biggest election challenge Mayor Mason says the city is facing is getting people to work the polls on April 7.

The mayor says at minimum they need 135 people to run an election and right now the City Clerk says they still need about 60-75 more people.

Workers will get $135 for the day.

To be a poll worker in Racine you must live in the county. Lunch and dinner are provided. The city is encouraging high school students over the age of 16, college students, teachers, and bartenders and services workers out of work to apply.

Applications can be found here. You can also email [email protected] or call/text 262-822-9692 and let them know you are interested in applying.