https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/16/dr-fauci-plans-to-vote-in-person-how-to-vote-safely-during-pandemic.html
But 79-year-old White House advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said it’s safe to vote in person — in fact, he is going to try to vote in person, his schedule permitting, he told Yahoo! News Thursday.
“If one does the polling process carefully and prudently, I think it would be fine for people to go to the polls, who feel that that’s something that they want to do,” Fauci told Yahoo! News.
Yes, but not everyone would end up doing this "as carefully and prudently" as Dr. Fauci would.
Would all voters know the proper type of mask to use, as Dr. Fauci would?
Would all voters know how to wear such a mask properly, with minimum gaps between the face and mask, as Dr. Fauci would?
Would all voters even be able to get ahold of the type of mask that Dr. Fauci would believe to be sufficient, as I assume Dr. Fauci did?
Would all voters carry disinfectant with them so they could immediately clear their hands after exchanging ballots with others?
Dr. Fauci said it would be find for him to vote in person, which I think it would be correct. But I don't hear him saying everyone should vote in person, whether they followed the proper procedures or not, or even knew the proper procedures sufficiently or not, or had the proper mask and disinfectant or not.
I think, that if pressed on the issue, Dr. Fauci would advise most voters to only vote in person:
* if they knew what sort of mask and disinfectant to bring
* was able to get ahold of these items
* knew exactly how to use these items, particularly the mask
* were really keen on voting the traditional way, in person.
otherwise, for God's sake, use a mail-in ballot. Don't needlessly give yourself an extra chance to catch the virus before the vaccine becomes generally available within a few months, and for the most vulnerable, within a few weeks.
* * * * *
Yes, an expert rock climber might say "As long I am careful and prudent, I can safely scale this 100 foot cliff" doesn't mean that I can safely do so as well. Just because he can do so safely doesn't mean that everyone can do so. Or that he is advising everyone to give it a go.