In the polling stations in North Rhine-Westphalia there is a mask requirement, albeit with exceptions. The cities have prepared themselves for different cases. Also for people who could refuse to wear mouth and nose protection.
Mask requirement on the one hand, right to vote on the other: The corona pandemic presents many polling stations with special challenges this year – especially when people refuse to wear mouth and nose protection. Several cities in North Rhine-Westphalia have prepared for this case.
For “those who absolutely do not want to wear a mask”, mobile urns are being set up outside the election building in Cologne, for example, the broadcaster quoted a city spokesman as saying. In cities like Aachen, Duisburg or Essen, masks would therefore be ready in the polling stations. However, should those eligible to vote refuse to wear mouth and nose protection, operations in Aachen, for example, will be briefly interrupted so that the person can cast their vote on their own, according to a city spokeswoman. In Essen, too, the room had to be empty, as the city administration announced, so that people could vote without a mask. Then it is disinfected and aired.
Mask requirement in the polling station – with exceptions
Background: The state’s Corona Protection Ordinance provides for the wearing of a medical mask in the entrances and rooms of the polling stations – nevertheless, every voter must have the opportunity to vote, as the NRW Interior Ministry emphasized.
However, there are exceptions, as the WDR reported on. According to the rules, mask refusers could also be expelled from the polling station if it is not possible to cast a vote without endangering other people. However, the obligation does not apply to people who cannot wear masks for medical reasons – they would have to be able to show a medical certificate. A 3G rule does not apply on election Sunday, so voters do not have to prove that they have been vaccinated, tested or recovered.
Duisburg or Münster would adhere closely to the “handout of the Federal Returning Officer” for the special balloting: According to this, people can, under certain conditions, cast their votes without a mask in exceptional cases – for example, if there is no rush and the size of the voting area is taken into account. The electoral boards in Münster are prepared to “pay attention to a cautious approach that takes into account all the circumstances of the individual case and, in particular, takes account of their own protection,” the WDR quoted a city spokeswoman as saying.
It was only on Friday that the Higher Administrative Court in Münster made it clear that the mask requirement is legal and rejected the urgent application by a voter who wanted to express his critical stance on the corona policy, according to the broadcaster.
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