Coronavirus worries force election officials to get creative

Thousands of state and local election officials across the U.S are sharing ideas and making accommodations to try to ensure that voters and polling places are safe amid an unprecedented pandemic.Some are finding ways to expand access to voter registration and ballot request forms. Others are testing new products, installing special equipment or scouting outdoor voting locations.Here are virus-related obstacles voters could face during this unprecedented presidential election year along with some of the solutions being tried:CLOSURES AND CURTAILED HOURSWhat if you need a voter registration form or absentee ballot application and all the normal go-to places are closed or open by appointment only? Separate voting stations, far from the rest, are being set up where possible to accommodate those who know or suspect they’re infected with the virus and decide to self-report.Ari Schaffer, a spokesman for Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, said State Farm Arena in Atlanta is large enough to have a separate voting station for those who have a positive COVID-19 test, though not all polling locations will be.In Iowa, curbside voting already available to voters with disabilities was expanded to other vulnerable voters during the primary.