Table 1Public measures and key considerations for an election during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stage |
Key considerations |
Measures |
Govermental bodies*
|
The planning stage |
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
Design of a cooperative system with relevant departments
Recommendations for infectious disease prevention and control based on specific departmental decisions
-
Development of electoral plan by the National Election Commission based on key recommendations:
- Installation of separate polling booths
- Recruitment of key personnel
- Monitoring of symptoms before entry into the polling station
- Preventive measures (wearing mask and disposable gloves, maintaining a physical distance of 1m, and wearing personal protective equipment)
- Monitoring the voters for 14 days after the election
- Training the election staff
- Communication of the election steps and public health guidelines
-
Support strategy for the local election developed by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the local government registration
Monitoring for the election using a mobile app Management strategy and movement on the election day |
A, B, C, D |
|
Assessment of the testing capability and management competence for home isolation
Information sharing system (list of names and contacts) for rapid investigation of close contacts
Assessment of resources, such as thermometers and hand sanitizers, by the National Election Commission
|
|
|
|
B |
The practice stage |
|
-
Inspection of management conditions compared with the plan
Supplemental strategy during preliminary voting
-
Sharing challenges during the election and regulatory measures
|
B, C, D |
|
Checking of symptoms before entering the polling station
Close monitoring of suspected cases with the local health center
Monitoring individuals isolating at home
|
|
|
|
|
The evaluation stage |
|
Voter investigation and tracing of confirmed cases
Analysis of the risk of disease spread via epidemiological investigation
Assessment of compliance for preventive measures during the election
|
A |
|
|
|
Table 2Election strategy for COVID-19 patients and individuals isolating at home.
Parameter |
COVID-19 patients |
Individuals isolating at home |
Type |
Resident voting, early voting |
General voting |
Polling station |
Hospitals and Living Treatment Center |
Near the place of isolation |
Manager |
Managers and representatives of hospitals and Living Treatment Center (new designation for the election) |
Management of public officials |
|
PPE |
|
|
Voter |
Mask, disposable gloves after hand hygiene using a hand sanitizer |
Mask, disposable gloves after hand hygiene using a hand sanitizer |
Election staff |
Mask, gloves, goggles, coverall gown |
Mask, gloves, goggles, coverall gown |
|
Disinfection |
|
|
Polling booth |
Each time |
Each time |
Ballot |
Disinfection of the sealed envelope |
No extra disinfection of the ballots |
|
Voting procedure |
Registration to vote Proceeding to the special polling station in the hospital/Living Treatment Center Wearing disposable gloves after hand hygiene Vote Disinfection of the polling booth Hand hygiene after removing the disposable gloves Return to the place of isolation |
Registration to vote Allowance for going out after checking the symptoms Walking alone using own vehicle Registration on the app and recording Checking symptoms/wearing disposable gloves after hand hygiene Entry into the waiting room / waiting after 6 pm Distribution of the waiting tickets / entry to the polling station Vote Disinfection of the polling booth Hand hygiene after removing disposable gloves Return to the place of isolation/end of app monitoring |
Table 3Status of confirmed cases participating in the election during period of communicability.
Case |
A |
B |
C |
D |
General characteristics |
Gender |
Male |
Male |
Male |
Male |
Age (y) |
66 |
51 |
46 |
55 |
Provence |
Gyeongbuk |
Gyeonggi |
Gyeongbuk |
Gyeonggi |
|
Epidemic characteristics |
Day of voting |
April 10th
|
April 15th
|
April 15th
|
April 15th
|
COVID-19 confirmed date |
April 12th
|
April 23rd
|
April 21st
|
April 26th
|
No. of contacts |
4 |
40 |
0 |
1 |
Person-to-person transmission case (n) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Travel history |
No |
No |
No |
Yes†
|
Isolation state |
Na |
Na |
Home |
Home |
|
Election characteristics |
Type of voting |
Early |
General |
General |
General |
Symptoms during voting |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Travel to the polling station |
Own vehicle |
Own vehicle |
Walked |
Walked |
Approximate duration of stay at the polling station (min) |
10 |
10 |
15 |
25 |
Wearing of masks |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Use PPE (mask, gloves, etc.) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Physical distance |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Contact with others |
Yes*
|
No |
No |
No |