Poll workers told to "act surprised" if asked about no mask

[groundloop]

Source: ABC News

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Poll workers who signed up to work the November election in a county near St. Louis were urged in an email to “act surprised” if voters ask why they aren’t wearing masks given the coronavirus threat, but the elections director said Thursday that the message was misinterpreted.

The St. Charles County Election Authority sent the email to poll workers on Wednesday. It says workers will not be required to wear a mask on Nov. 3 but must keep one near them and put it on if a voter asks.

“You may act surprised that you don’t have a face mask on properly and then apologize as you put the mask on,” the email states. “Wear your mask correctly until the voter leaves the polling place. Please do this every time a voter says something to you.”

<snip>

"The phrase ‘act surprised’ was intended to communicate, ‘Don’t have a debate or dialogue with the voter, don’t have any type of discussion that’s going to slow down the line, just put the mask on, take care of the voter and keep the mask on while they are there in the polling place,’” Bahr said.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/poll-workers-told-act-surprised-asked-mask-73074363?cid=clicksource_4380645_1_heads_hero_live_headlines_hed

---

Damned fucking morons.

[aquamarina]

1. Yeah, right.

It was "misinterpreted" because it was exposed.

[soothsayer]

2. How about just wearing an effing mask

[Statistical]

3. Seems like that would be the very obvious solution. nt

[LiberalLovinLug]

8. Seriously

Isn't it more complicated and prone to raising arguments, delays in lineups, by the more outspoken mask wearers? Even if you were an avid anti-masker, why go through the day enticing reactions, then having to put it on, then having to watch in the corner of your eye until the person leaves the station, so you can take it off again and open yourself up to confrontation again?

[VarryOn]

37. My employer said there would be no debate on wearing masks...

they should tell them the same thing... no mask, no job. Pretty simple.

[louis-t]

4. The fucking stupidity of "having a mask nearby".

It's the herd immunity crowd. It's a libertarian ideology, actually. Let the 'free market' take care of it. When millions of people die, it's ok cuz the 'free market' handled it. See, it's not that we are intellectually lazy fucking morons, it's the 'free market'.

[barbtries]

9. alternatively,

they can say "I didn't want to live that long anyway"

[forgotmylogin]

11. Correction: the "herd mentality" crowd.

[LuvNewcastle]

30. That's it.

The free market is their god. Submit to the will of the market. They don't believe people can improve life or society. We're all at the mercy of the market and we should accept that fact and like it.

[lagomorph777]

5. Obviously non-mask wearing is a voter intimidation tactic.

Laser-targeted at sane people (i.e. Democrats).

[stopdiggin]

10. kinda' disagree

I think the elections board is playing the same game here as the retailers. Namely, "Everybody play nice, and just try to get along." Avoid confrontation. This is MO after all -- and poll workers (as well as voters) come from both sides of the aisle. The board can't just come out and say, "And we're NOT going to tolerate any bubbas!" 'Cause -- the bubbas are already there.

[Mr.Bill]

15. Wearing a mask is not about what side of the aisle you're from.

It's about science and not spreading a deadly disease.

[stopdiggin]

16. please tell that to Bubba

I don't really need the reminder.
----- -----
And still -- the elections will be held in a country where substantial numbers (see Missouri) are not wearing masks. Are you proposing to try to stop them from voting?

[Mr.Bill]

18. Is my county's Health Director

trying to keep me from shopping for groceries by telling me I have to wear a mask at the supermarket?

Actually by telling people they don't have to wear a mask at a polling place, they are trying to tell a segment of the population not to vote.

[stopdiggin]

19. so then -- you ARE proposing that the un-masked

be prevented from exercising their franchise at the polls?
Boy -- can hardly wait to see how this one turns out ..!!
----- -----

[Mr.Bill]

21. If the proper authorities deem it necessary

for health reasons, absolutely. Do you want to stand in line with people who are not wearing masks and sneezing and coughing?

By the way, this is a hypothetical argument for me, because I will get a mail-in ballot which I will hand deliver to the Registrar of Voters.

[stopdiggin]

22. yes. I KNOW it is a hypothetical to you.

Sir -- as someone that has lived there ...
Let's just say your naivety is apparent. The idea that a public health official will make a pronouncement -- and then the polling place won't turn into a sh*tstorm .... Sigh.

I still say that the person you need to talk to is Bubba ...
And I'll hold your beer ...
----- -----

[Mr.Bill]

24. Where I live, Bubba is wearing his mask at the grocery store

all public buildings and all businesses that are indoors. He may not like it, but he's doing it.

[stopdiggin]

40. happy for you

but -- as we've both amply demonstrated -- you don't live in the area (or under the conditions) being discussed.

[Bengus81]

44. So "Bubba" doesn't have to wear shoes and a shirt inside a resturant in MO??

Why does Bubba put up with those Libtard rules but would refuse to wear a mask--for a HELL of a lot less time than being in a restaurant?

[stopdiggin]

45. Ask Bubba

Might have something to do with (dis)information being spewed around like a busted firehose

“So with the masks, it’s going to be, really, a voluntary thing. You can do it. You don’t have to do it. I’m choosing not to do it, but some people may want to do it, and that’s okay. It may be good. Probably will. They’re making a recommendation. It’s only a recommendation. It’s voluntary.” - Donald Trump -

Meanwhile, you do recognize a slight difference between a retail establishment and a polling station? And that tying up the polls and the voting process with endless protests, outrage (faux or not) and dispute -- might not be in the best interests of an electoral result that we're interested in?
----- -----

[Illumination]

26. Me too Mr. Bill RE hand delivery! This whole discussion shouldn't be happening. It's just so

Trumpian & meant to divide us! Don't know if you saw on this site about voter registration. People are discovering that they've been switched (magically) from active to inactive! Everyone check their status. Some are checking it daily...

[uncle ray]

32. the voter suppression is in discouraging those concerned/at risk of covid from voting in person.

if the polling place is staffed by all non masked persons, some will decide not to vote, or will take their chance with mail in ballots...if they are thinking ahead AND if they even can vote by other means.

[Skittles]

41. no

it is definitely a voter suppression thing

[Baitball Blogger]

6. WTF!

[LiberalLovinLug]

7. Jeez, its like "only wear your seatbelt if you see a cop car, then you can take it off".

[patphil]

14. Or only wear your pants if someone objects to you walking around in your briefs.

[Marcuse]

34. Or people with possible STDs refusing to use condoms.

[NurseJackie]

12. They'll also "act surprised" when their doctor says "you have COVID19" and...

... and they'll act surprised when they ask: "do you have any last words before we hook you up to a respirator"?

[RhodeIslandOne]

20. "I OWNED THE LIBBBSSSS!!!!"

[turbinetree]

13. The Show Me State..............Harry Truman would be embarrassed.........

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

17. Doctors should act surprised when an unmasked poll worker wants a ventilator.

Insert the breathing tube but don't turn on the machine. "Oh, I forgot to turn it on? My bad."

Or make them coin operated for poll workers who refused to wear a mask or played the St, Charles Election Authority's game. You know, like 25 cents for five minutes of operation. Oh, and they'll get a kid's toy for every day they make it.

[LiberalLoner]

42. Love it! 👏

[Sherman A1]

23. St. Charles County

is heavily Republican. I have no doubt that St.Louis City & St. Louis County will require masks by both the workers and voters.

[ga_girl]

25. At least my county provides PPE

Masks, face shield, gloves, hand sanitizer, surface sanitizer.

[BamaRefugee]

27. "Also act surprised if a Democratic voter asks why you just put his ballot into the trash can".

[zaj]

28. This feels like click-bait news to me. (not sarcasm)

Acting surprised is a fair way to deal with avoiding conflict if you are caught without a mask, and you are intending to put it on whenever people are around.

This seems less news-worthy and kind of unnecessarily divisive to make news out of it.

[Dukkha]

29. I wonder how surprised Herman Cain acted.

Last edited Thu Sep 17, 2020, 09:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Of course we can't ask him.

[Mr.Bill]

36. I think you mean Herman Cain.

Herb Cain was a columnist for the SF Chronicle that died years ago. One of my favorites.

[Dukkha]

38. ah duly noted and changed.

I was an SF resident in the 90's and read Herb in the Chronicle. I guess I had him on the brain tonight.

[Mr.Bill]

39. I read him every day for decades.

I sure do miss him.

[Alpeduez21]

31. How does putting on a mask clean

the air in the area that's poisoned from before wearing the mask?

[SharonClark]

33. Another reason for Dems in that repug county to vote early or absentee.

Let the repugs kill themselves with stupidity.

[Raven]

35. Gee, in my NH town, we couldn't get poll workers unless masks were

required for everybody. Maybe that's one of the reasons NH has such a low Covid-19 rate.

Note: We had a special voting location outside for people who refused to wear masks and there were only a few of them.