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Poll worker warns of iPad hygiene issues; board staff weigh small mitigation steps
Summary
A poll worker told the board that shared iPad styluses were unsanitary during the primary; staff proposed replacing styluses, offering hand sanitizer and encouraging poll workers to use personal or disposable styli.
During public comment July 15, a poll worker, Karen Lechamps, said staff used iPads with styluses and that flipping devices for voters left poll workers repeatedly touching screens without a hygienic solution. "I felt like, gosh, I've touched everybody that's walked up to me today," Lechamps said, describing concern about germs being spread via shared styluses.
Elections staff suggested several practical mitigations: supplying more durable styluses, providing disposable single-use styli or Q-tips as was done during COVID-era procedures, and placing hand sanitizer at stations. Lechamps and the board noted any sanitizing step will slow processing and that an ideal solution balances hygiene and throughput.
The board thanked the poll worker and asked staff to explore replacement styluses and small sanitation measures for upcoming elections.
