YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - With visiting restrictions still in place at nursing homes across the state of Ohio, operators will have to decide how they will allow residents to cast their ballots in the November election.

"We need to make sure that there are correct accommodations for every voter in the state," Frank LaRose said, Ohio Secretary of State.

In a typical election year, a team of bi-partisan poll workers would take the process to them, or a relative would help nursing home residents fill out their ballots.

Ohio's elections chief says the team of individuals sent by the local board of elections to these operations is prepared to go through proper health screenings.

"They'll come and essentially set up an early voting opportunity at the senior facility, and course all those bi-partisan officials can go through all the screening procedures, temperature checks, or whatever else to get into that facility," LaRose said.

While deploying a team is still an option, Trumbull County Board of Elections Director Stephanie Penrose says almost all of the 16 nursing homes they work within the county do not want anyone coming into their facilities to help with the voting process.

Penrose says she's been fielding push back from operators, but she's confident they'll eventually find a solution. No matter when the plan is, she says ballots will be dropped off to 16 nursing homes and 11 assisted living facilities in Trumbull County.

EDM Management operates the skilled nursing Greenbrier Center in Boardman.

After seeing our initial report on 21 News, its president Diane Reese says they're planning to deputize two staff members. They would select one registered Democrat and one registered Republican, which is the protocol if a facility wants to have its staff members take on election-related duties.

Windsor House operates 17 nursing homes across the valley. It's considering both options right now for residents.

"We have not since this pandemic started, allowed outside visitors into our nursing homes and assisted living communities, so we want to make sure all the appropriate policies, procedures, protocols are followed from that standpoint," Dan Rowland said, marketing director for Windsor House.

Rowland says it's very important that residents are able to vote.

Nursing home residents are in the most vulnerable population when it comes to the virus.

The CDC's latest numbers show that nearly 8 in 10 of all COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are adults ages 65 and older.

The same age group makes up 22-percent of all coronavirus cases. Those over the age of 75 have a risk of needing hospitalization that's eight times higher compared to younger adults ages 18-29.