Confusion impels trip to the polls

As a 70-year-old, I'm very concerned about voting during this pandemic. When I filled out the absentee ballot application for both the primary and general election, I was relieved that it clarified that if you had coronavirus concerns you could check the “Temporary illness or physical disability ” box.

Then I was left scratching my bald head when the Board of Elections informed me in early September that the “temporary ” executive order on absentee ballots didn't apply to the November election and I must fill it out again.

To further confuse the situation, there was no disclaimer empowering me to check that “Temporary illness or physical disability ” box because of coronavirus concerns. Instead, there was a statement, “It is a felony to make a false statement in an application.” Oh dear! Could my ballot be challenged as voter fraud?

To add to the confusion, President Donald Trump has been calling mailin balloting fraudulent. He's even encouraging supporters to vote twice: Send in a mail-in ballot and vote on

Election Day. There’s speculation that most Republicans will vote by machine Nov. 3 and early returns will show Trump the winner. Then, over the course of days or weeks as as Democratic absentee votes are tabulated, the tide will turn, but Trump will claim the vote was “rigged.”

My solution: Thankfully, the notice I received states that polls will be open for 60 hours over nine days for early voting. My plan now is to stick my masked face into the polling room and if there is a crowd, go get a coffee and come back later or the next day.