Page 131 - Conducting Elections during COVID-19

NORTH MACEDONIA 113

• Polling officers were instructed to maintain a distance of one to 1.5 meters from one another. All
members of the Electoral Boards were directed to wear a face mask and gloves. The mask was
changed every four hours and the gloves after restroom and lunch breaks.
• The EMBs also changed polling station locations that did not satisfy the minimum requirements
for maintaining a safe distance between election administrators, voters and all others present at
the polling stations.

• Voting was organized on July 13 for voters who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are
quarantined at home or who have been in self-isolation with a decree from the State Sanitary
and Health Inspectorate.

• On July 14 voting was organized in prisons; for voters at home due to house arrest, disability or
illness; in centres for internally displaced persons; and for voters in assisted living facilities.
• Citizens with confirmed symptoms of COVID-19 and/or self-isolated be allowed to vote and were
quarantining at home and those who were self-isolated with a decree from the State Sanitary and
Health Inspectorate were able to vote.

Based on the health protocol, the SEBs had their personal protective equipment, including a gown for
one-time use, face masks, gloves and disinfectant, and respect the required physical distance of one
to 1.5 meters.
It was mandatory for voters to wear masks and people should disinfect their hands both prior to and
after voting. When showing their personal document for identification (ID or passport), the voter had
to briefly take off the mask while maintaining the recommended distance from the members of the
SEB. After visiting each household, the members of the SEB have to change their personal protective
equipment.

Voter Education: A graphical presentation

• Mandatory wearing of a standard surgical mask through nose and mouth and
disposable protective gloves.

• Mandatory maintenance of physical distance from 1.5 - 2 meters during
the whole process.

• Mandatory hand washing and disinfection before and after
process.

• Personal protective equipment is removed upon completion of the process.

• Used personal protective equipment is placed in black plastic bag that closes
with adhesive tape. Waste is treated as municipal waste.

Transport vehicles are disinfected before and after completion of the handover
• Transport vehicles are disinfected before and after completion of the handover
of the material with use an agent that acts on viruses according to instructions
from the manufacturer. Alternatively can be used0.05% sodium hypochlorite or
from the manufacturer. Alternatively can be used0.05% sodium hypochlorite or
70% alcohol for disinfection of upper surfaces.