Fostoria polling locations prep for Election Day

The most important thing to do for those who aren't directly involved in Election Day is, more or less, to stay out of the way at Tuesday's polling places.Five buildings will host six precincts today within the Fostoria city limits, and those locations will be somewhat taken over by poll workers who administer the operation of citizens casting their ballots -- this year, highlighted by the presidential race between Republican incumbent Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden."We have it pretty easy as far as that goes," Fostoria Fire Chief Brian Herbert said.Along with the fire department, located at 233 W. South St., the city will have four other sites open. The Fostoria Church of the Nazarene, 339 Sandusky St., is hosting two separate precincts, while one each will be at Mazda Direct dealership, 1502 N. Countyline St.; the Geary Family YMCA, 154 W. Center St.; and New Life Family Worship, 800 Columbus Ave.All told, 51 precincts will be open in Seneca County between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.Both Herbert and YMCA Chief Executive Officer Tim Yenrick said voting machines were delivered to their locations last Friday. Yenrick said representatives of the Seneca County Board of Elections were expected to be in Monday night to get the machines set up for voters; Herbert said poll workers would be getting the machines in place early Tuesday.Yenrick said that other than child care, the YMCA would be closed to members on Tuesday as a precaution against the potential transfer of the coronavirus."We'll have housekeeping staff and desk staff here that day just to make sure we're wiping down general areas and things like that during the day," Yenrick said. "They vote right off of our lobby, in the family room, so it's a pretty simple operation."We have spots on the floor for separation. Hopefully, we won't have them waiting outside. I just don't know what the turnout's going to be. The only difference, I think, between this year and last year is the social distancing, and we're closed so that our members wouldn't be coming in the same doorway or waiting in the lobby while voters are in there."Herbert said safety measures against the coronavirus have been planned at the fire department, but otherwise the board of elections people will run the voting show."We don't really do a whole lot other than clear out the (training) room for them, so they can have the room," he said. "The voting stuff was delivered Friday. The (Seneca County) Sheriff's Office brings that over. Then the poll workers will show up at 5, 5:30 Tuesday morning. All we do is make sure the door's open for them, and with the COVID stuff now, we have to make sure people are only coming in one entrance and not coming through the station. We have one entrance (on the east side of the building) designated for that."But other than making sure their coffee is full all the time, we really don't have a lot to do with it."