Voting, despite the epidemic. Emmanuel Macron announced a series of measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus in France, in particular inviting the French to limit their movements. The government hardened the tone on Saturday, indicating that France had entered stage 3 of the epidemic, which notably provides for the closure of non-essential businesses. The executive has however chosen to maintain the municipal elections, the first round of which takes place on Sunday. In this context, Europe 1 has identified five pieces of advice given by the authorities to go to the polls while protecting yourself and others.
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Read the instructions when you arrive
Explanatory signs have been installed in front of each polling station to inform voters of the procedure to follow and the precautions to be taken. They point out in particular where the nearest sinks are for washing hands and summarize all the instructions. The only one that is not there and that can be applied upstream: bring your own ballot, received by mail, if you do not want to have to touch those of the office.
Respect safety distances
Health Minister Olivier Véran announced it on Europe 1 on Friday: "There will be a meter gap in the queue between people going to vote" on Sunday. This distance should make it possible to limit contact between voters. It is accompanied by the presence of hydroalcoholic gel, offered to voters before and after their visit to the polling station.
Choose the right voting time
Waiting time should not be the only criterion: to allow people over the age of 70, considered to be at risk, to vote safely, the government recommends that they prefer certain quieter hours to go to the polls . This is particularly the case for the hours after lunch. Younger people without any pathology can therefore, if possible, vote at another time.
Throw away unused ballots
In the polling stations, the voting booths will remain slightly ajar for those who do not wish to be in contact with the curtains. Additional precaution: the organizers recommend that voters throw out the ballots themselves that they do not use, so that the tablets remain empty for the next voters. These tablets will also be regularly disinfected.
Bring your own pen
Last step: after having deposited his ballot in the ballot box, it remains to sign the registers. While voters are used to doing it with "collective" pens, made available by town halls, it is this time recommended to bring your own pen, blue or black, with indelible ink, and take it home after vote.