MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s elections chief said Friday that he is telling local officials that they cannot require voters to wear masks at polling places during Tuesday’s election.
Several cities and counties have local mandates to wear masks in public places after Alabama saw a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases and the total number of people hospitalized with COVID-19.
“While it can be ‘strongly recommended’ that an individual wear a mask, it cannot be required,” Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said he told county election officials.
“In our state, we will continue to see that the right for every eligible Alabamian to vote is protected,” Merrill said.
Merrill said a June 30 notice from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said it is clear that “state law does not allow for an individual’s qualification to vote to be contingent upon the wearing of a mask or face covering, respecting social distancing, using gloves, or having a temperature in a normal range.”