Corpus Christi Sun

With a country facing a global pandemic, county chairman Mike Carter (R-San Patricio) ensures that the county he represents is going to great lengths to assure voters that safeguards are in place to safely vote in person. 

Voters requested absentee ballots in record numbers for this election, but many Americans worry about the risk of fraud when it comes to mailing in a ballot. 

"San Patricio County Elections Administration has gone to extraordinary measures to ensure the safety of the voters and the election workers," Carter said. "Disinfecting all voting booths after each voter, hand sanitizers available to the voters, PPE (personal protective equipment) if the voter doesn't have one and wishes to use, finger tabs for signing the equipment and voting, curbside voting on election day, and plexiglass screens between the voter and the election clerks. I feel perfectly safe voting in person."

Carter doesn't believe that physical spacing in poll lines that would create a longer visual line would discourage voters. Mask mandates is another topic he didn't flinch over. 

"I wouldn't think so," Carter said. "Early voting has been extended an extra week and there are eight polling stations in the county. On Election Day, there are 10 and notifications as to the distance between locations in the event of very long lines. The voter has other options."

To Carter, every person's vote is sacred and it should be our priority to own it and protect it.

"There should be no intermediary," Carter said. "Only voting in person unless age, health, or travel prevents it. Then you can request a ballot to be mailed to you."

Between both political parties, six out of 10 American's plan on voting in person while four out of 10 plan on voting by mail, according to Brookings EDU.