People wearing masks when voting in person during elections may be asked by the election staff to remove their masks for an identity check. Taking your mask off exposes you to a higher risk of catching Covid, especially as there will be no Covid precautions in polling stations.
If you refuse to remove your mask when requested, it is likely that the election staff will not issue a ballot slip as you will not have passed the new identity check for elections. This means you will not be able to vote.
It is not yet certain how many polling stations will request people to remove their masks – BuDS is making urgent enquiries of the Electoral Commission. However, it is safer for you to assume that you will be asked to remove your mask if voting in person.
If you do not wish to be exposed to a higher risk of catching Covid by removing your mask in this way, BuDS recommends the following:
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