Absentee Satellite voting locations to open Oct. 5-8

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Voters should prepare now to exercise their right to vote by choosing the best option for them for the upcoming Nov. 3 General Election.

Due to the current pandemic, the Anderson County Elections Board decided to open four absentee voting locations around the county in hopes to provide a safer environment to vote absentee. Absentee Satellite Locations will only be open October 5-8.

In previous years, the only location to vote absentee was the Voter Registration and Elections office.
Any registered voter in Anderson County may visit one of the satellite locations to vote.

Those who prefer to vote absentee should apply as soon as possible.

If voting absentee by mail, you may get the application online, call the Anderson County Elections office at (864) 260-4035, or email a request to acvote@andersoncountysc.org

The four Satellite Absentee locations are:

Powdersville Library, 4 Civic Court Powdersville; Belton Recreation, 700 Blue Ridge Ave, Belton;
Starr Fire Department, 7715 Hwy 81 S, Starr and Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center, 3027 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Anderson.

The four satellite absentee voting locations will be open Monday – Thursday, October 5 – 8 between the hours of 8:30 – 11:30 am and 1:00-5:00 pm.

Each location will be staffed with two members from the Board of Elections and two to three Election Workers from the area. The hours of operation include time to allow for cleaning and sanitizing equipment.

“Our hope is by providing more options of absentee voting locations and times that we may limit the threat of exposure to COVID-19 for workers and voters,” said Katy Smith, Director and “possibly reduce lines at the polls on Election Day.”

Items that were considered in the planning and location selection icnlude:

Safety to all – voters, staff, election workers, owners of locations,
Dividing the county into 4 quadrants to equally represent areas
Timing of opening satellite locations to provide ample notice to all concerned
Amount of days and hours to open in the spirit of honoring the “Social Distancing” as recommended by the CDC
Time to properly prepare and conduct absentee voting in multiple locations
Current data on the COVID-19 pandemic in our state and Anderson County
Guidance from CDC, Federal, State, and Local Authorities
Providing the quality of service to all at a level consistent with the standards set by our office and expectations of others, but within the framework of Federal, State, and Local Law during this unprecedented time and associated effects of the COVID-19 Virus Pandemic
Amount of time and resources available to-date to successfully implement the plan
Locations in opposite areas to voters in regions that would give multiple dates to choose when to vote absentee
Social Distancing for staff, election workers and voters
Allow for voters to choose where, when, and what time they wish to vote Absentee
To accommodate for less travel or plan absentee voting around days traveling within our county to suit voters in these areas
Limits time for possible exposure to staff and election workers
4 Locations to choose from over a 4-day period
Potential to decrease the mass numbers lining up to vote at the absentee precinct at the Election Office downtown over the 4 weeks before the Election

Voting
Voters should prepare by:
Making sure they are registered to vote, and address is up to date.
Check your registration.
Register or update your address.
Bringing your Photo ID.
Wearing a protective mask if you have one.
Bringing your own pen for signing the poll list.
Practicing social distancing by spacing yourself at least six feet apart from others.
Being patient.