At 23, Amanda will be an assessor for the second time in her short life as a citizen during the first round of the presidential election, Sunday April 10. In 2021, for the regionals, she remembers that “all the protocol was there: disinfectant, masks, meals taken at a distance of one meter, gloves to open the counting envelopes”. This year, the health instructions are reduced to their minimum portion: no obligation to wear a mask, but to “strong recommendations” to do so, targeting frail, elderly and immunocompromised people, who may come across people with or without symptoms, contact cases, but also people who have tested positive for Covid-19 in their polling station. The latter are authorized to break their isolation for the time to exercise their right to vote.
“A simple measure could have been imposed: put the masks back on. The act of voting does not take more than ten minutes. After two years behind a permanent mask, what are ten more minutes to perform a civic act and a health duty? », wonders Amanda (who, like the rest of the people who testified, requested anonymity).
Asking this question annoys Matthieu, 52, pharmacist in Morangis (Essonne). For him, “It’s good that everyone is responsible for their actions”. “Take charge”, he says, a little provocatively. In his pharmacy, he tries to reassure the worried: 80% of the French population is vaccinated, there are now treatments against Covid-19, so “no reason to panic”. Also an assessor, he will not wear a mask behind the ballot box, except when he sees someone wearing a mask coming towards him, out of respect. And “I will make sure that the space is well ventilated”, he assures. Ten minutes every hour, recommends the government.
“I am prevented from voting”
The worried, however, are many. Georges-Marie, 72, has given up almost all of his outings for two years. During the only conference he allowed himself, he was declared a contact case. He therefore considers that going to a polling station represents a “excessive risk”. “I am prevented from voting”, he protests, regretting that “the elderly are forgotten in this management of the epidemic” since the restrictions were lifted. With his wife, they will therefore stay at home on Sunday. Same anger in Elisabeth, 71, suffering from a systemic autoimmune disease which attacks her lungs in particular. Under powerful immunosuppressants, this retired teacher is at high risk of having a severe form of Covid-19, despite her four doses of vaccine. “The state designates me as an outcast, an under-citizen, since I am forced to take risks to go and vote”, she gets carried away, tempted by abstention.
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