Maskless clerk in Indiana doesn't back down despite COVID surge, warning from state

[TexasTowelie]

Source: South Bend Tribune

COVINGTON – When Secretary of State Connie Lawson called to encourage Paula Copenhaver and her poll workers to put on face masks while overseeing early balloting at the Fountain County Courthouse, the county clerk said she told Lawson what she’s been repeating since polls opened Oct. 6.

“There are exemptions to the governor’s mandate,” Copenhaver said Friday. “If someone qualifies for an exemption, it is none of my business.”

In rural Fountain County – where the state designated its rural towns as coronavirus hot spots and the county health officer continues to butt heads with community leaders with recommendations to close school classrooms to keep the spread of COVID-19 in check – Copenhaver’s mask-less stance hasn’t changed.

She’s part of the government, the clerk said, “but I’m not going to be part of the government overreach.” Social distancing and available hand sanitizer will keep the voting process safe enough, she contends.

Read more: https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/maskless-clerk-in-indiana-doesnt-back-down-despite-covid-surge-warning-from-state/article_4d725468-109a-11eb-8e07-9f29ae7769b4.html

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Updated the title and the link to sister publication so that the story falls within 12 hour rule for LBN.

[True Blue American]

1. She needs to be escorted out

For endangering voters.

I am not attending Church today because of too many showing up without masks, hugging each other. We are seeing a surge in Covid-19.

[rockfordfile]

22. I agree

[BootinUp]

2. contact tracers on your mark! get set!

[Tyrs WolfDaemon]

24. I've had an awful cluster migraine for two days, so my reading comp is lagging somewhat

When I first saw your comment I pictured shooting her with a fluorescing paint tracer round of some sort so that we could keep track of her.

[NurseJackie]

3. As a voter, I'd skip that clerk and wait to be called by someone else.

Or I'd pretend to be busy or distracted and let someone else go ahead of me.

[magicarpet]

4. The scientists have lost,... the alpha macho males driven,...

... by toxic masculinity have ruled the day. The Coronavirus runs rampant infecting and spreading across the land unimpeded.

USA,.. USA,.. USA !

Stupid and grossly selfish meat-headed juvenile delinquent children who refuse to be responsible and act like adults.

[iluvtennis]

5. well said. agree. nt

[utopian]

13. I know, it's maddening nt

[Delphinus]

17. Agreed.

AND I just read a WaPo story of how Israel is causing much consternation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israel-lockdown-coronavirus-protests/2020/10/18/9ba7d462-0d86-11eb-b404-8d1e675ec701_story.html

[JI7]

25. There is nothing alpha about those types. Bunch of ignorant cavemen

braindead jackoffs.

[marie999]

6. I think a lot of people are just giving up.

The virus hit and trump told them it would soon go away. Then he told them that it would end when the hot weather came. Now the scientists are telling them that with the cold weather the virus and the flu would send more people to the hospital and people just don't care and these are not just trump followers. They are tired. We are still hunkered down and will stay that way as long as we have to but some family members are not. We have an autistic great-grandchild who was just tested positive because he has been going to school. This is going to be a winter like I have never seen in my 72 years.

[marble falls]

7. We'll be reading about the Voting Booth Cluster next week.

[moriah]

8. In my county it seems like our public library system/staff....

... have stepped up, as the libraries were the primary food distribution site for our district's kids, and now have offered their buildings for early voting.

Our early vote starts tomorrow, so I will see how well they are enforcing our governor's rather loose mask mandate.

But my hope is that young employees of the library system had realized the need and have asked to be employed as poll workers for early voting, and if they have been utilizing masks whilst doing these other activities, hopefully at least the workers conducting early voting will be.

For comparison, in 2016 there were six early voting locations for our entire county, and as a result, and there were long lines on both election day and to vote early. And we're a major metropolitan county for our state.

Expanding early voting from city/county buildings or civic centers to the public library system locations more than triples the number of early voting locations in my city alone, and while there are fewer libraries on the outskirts of the county, it will still be better voting access than we had in 2016.

And we're gonna need as many people to vote early or vote through the mail as we can, as I'm truly scared for Election Day insofar as how many elderly poll workers may feel it is their civic duty to ensure the election takes place if enough young people haven't signed up locally to work the election.

[nuxvomica]

9. What are the medical exemptions?

I keep hearing about them but I've never seen a list. My sister says she won't wear a mask (she works in retail and at least wears a face shield) because of her asthma, and she thinks it forces you to breath you're exhaled CO2, and she's been up-and-down about COVID being a hoax and/or bioweapon anyway, but I know other people with asthma who have no problem wearing a mask. I told my sister that Biden at 77 wears a mask while bike riding and she said, "Well that explains a lot."

[Rhiannon12866]

11. I have asthma - and therefore it's even more important that I wear a mask

Because if I were to get the virus, it would be even more dangerous for me because I already have a lung issue! I read about someone giving that ridiculous excuse just the other day and it makes absolutely no sense. Those of us with conditions that make us vulnerable have to be even more diligent in taking precautions.

[Evolve Dammit]

23. Same. That is why I really hate these people. They don't care AT ALL. Mind-numbingly insane.

[George II]

10. Anyone notice the caption under the photograph?

They must have the prettiest ballots in the state!

Fountain County Clerk Paul Copenhaver uses a stylist to active a voter’s ballot card on Friday.

[keithbvadu2]

12. Spell checker strikes again.

[TexasTowelie]

14. Should also be to "activate" a voter's ballot card.

I was a nitpicky proofreader during my earlier days.

[kas125]

15. And it should say Paula and not Paul.

Whoever wrote that caption needs to find a new job.

[George II]

18. Wow, I was so taken with the "stylist" that I missed that and "Paul" vs. "Paula" as pointed out too!

[dalton99a]

16. +1

[DBoon]

19. She should get the same treatment as a habitual drunk driver

Like a drunk driver, she is putting other peoples' lives at risk.

[stillcool]

20. she must want it bad...

[DownriverDem]

21. Alright then

I have no sympathy for any repub who does not wear a mask and they get covid 19.