Building with bed bugs hosts polling station this week

Remember the Ballard Griffith senior apartment complex in Lexington, Kentucky? Back in September, we were told more than a hundred seniors there were living in apartments infested with bed bugs.

Nearly two months later, the building is still infested.

And on Tuesday, 600 people (including 400 who don’t live in the complex) will be voting there. According to WKYT:

Now with the towers becoming a polling place on Election Day, the Fayette County Clerk sent letters to those expected to vote at the site.

The letters say the library inside the apartment complex, where votes will be cast, has been sprayed with chemicals and the carpets have been steamed as a precaution.

It also says that no bed bugs have been found in the library, these steps are simply preventative.

Since bed bugs can be carried on people’s clothing and in bags and other items, bed bugs can conceivably be transmitted to others anywhere.

It does not sound like this room is known to be infested, and I think the treatment was a good idea. I am glad letters were sent out about this, and also hope that people will not skip voting in such an important election.

Personally, I would go to the polls under such circumstances, but I also probably would not sit down in the polling place, nor would I put down a bag or coat!

Keep in mind, neighbors may be in more danger of spreading or catching bed bugs on local public transportation, in stores and restaurants, and other local hangouts. Especially if such places are not receiving treatment.

The fact that the library was being treated before it became a polling place raised some questions amongst residents of the same building suffering from bed bug bites in their homes:

Those living with the bugs, however, can’t help but wonder why the extermination is happening just for the election when they are living with the pests everyday.

And that is a very good question.

You can read the full story from WKYT, or watch the video here.