Patience at the polls and millions of pencils: How will a pandemic vote work?

OTTAWA -- The moment Elections Canada has been planning for is finally here: A federal election in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country's top health officials say voting can happen safely while cases climb in the latest wave of the virus, but how exactly will casting a ballot work on Sept. 20?

Elections Canada believes doing so in person remains the easiest way to vote and says it's watching as the pandemic changes.

People can expect to see the familiar measures of Plexiglas barriers installed in rooms designed for people to stand about two metres apart along with bottles of hand sanitizers at polling stations.

As a result of needing to scrub down surfaces in between ballots being cast, the agency's website warns voting could take longer than usual. The strict sanitation rules means voters won't be sharing pencils to mark their ballots, but will each receive one of their own. Around 16 million single-use ones have been procured.

Elections workers, candidates and their representatives will be required to wear masks, but the agency is only encouraging voters to do so.

Provinces like Manitoba and Saskatchewan have rescinded their mandatory mask rules and Elections Canada says it will work with local public health rules to ensure consistency on the issue. It does plan to give a face covering to those who want to mask up.

As for where voters will be able to go, the agency says that's being worked on by returning officers who have an eye to provide the extra space needed for physical distancing.

How many schools will be used remains a question. The buildings are typically go-tos for Elections Canada, but that's all been complicated by the virus and the desire to keep students and staff learning safely in the classroom, free of any potential exposures.

"Returning officers are working with school boards, school principals and administrators to ensure that its health and safety plans are well known and followed," reads a statement from an Elections Canada spokesperson.

"Poll workers will ensure doors and windows are kept open, where possible, to reduce touch points and encourage air circulation."

The agency is also figuring out voting options for long-term care facilities.

As with the provincial elections that happened over the pandemic, not to mention last fall's vote in the United States, Elections Canada anticipates more people wanting to vote by mail.

It says it has improved the way to get a special ballot and has "increased our capacity to process requests while preserving vote integrity."

Elections Canada adds that special ballot boxes will be stationed at regular polling locations so those who requested to vote by mail can drop off their ballot on election day to ensure it's received by the deadline to be counted.

All potential election workers will be encouraged to get vaccinated, it says, but that will not be mandatory.

The agency says returning officers will, when possible, prioritize putting election workers who are vaccinated into communities at high risk of getting COVID-19. These include remote First Nations communities and long-term care facilities.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2021.