Tips for Ensuring Polling Station Security at Schools on Election Day

Election Day offers a unique challenge for officials looking to maintain their school’s security as crowds of voters come and go from campus.

Using schools as polling stations isn’t ideal.

In fact, after several school boards voiced security concerns in 2014, President Obama formed a commission to evaluate the safety of school polling locations.

Unfortunately, schools make for perfect polling stations due to their familiar locations, handicap accessibility and the size of their parking lots and hallways.

The people responsible for preparing schools for Election Day have a lot to keep in mind, including state-specific requirements that may vary by jurisdiction. Something as minor as a leaky roof or loose railing could open up the building to major liabilities. Still, security should be top of mind for officials, and there are some best practices that should be adopted everywhere.

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With that in mind, Campus Safety decided to put together a slideshow outlining a few aspects of polling station security at schools.

Whether schools are holding classes on Nov. 8 or not, officials should keep these tips in mind to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Now check out the slideshow!

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About the Author

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Zach Winn is a journalist living in the Boston area. He was previously a reporter for Wicked Local and graduated from Keene State College in 2014, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism and minoring in political science.

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