(Radio Iowa) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is distributing a half a million dollars in federal grant money to county auditors, to help with the expense of safety measures for the June 2nd Primary. Pate, who is chairman of the National Association of Secretaries of State, says all states were offered this kind of federal financial support for primaries.

Pate has redirected money in his office budget to come up with the state “matching” funds needed to qualify for the federal grants. Last week, Iowa National Guard soldiers delivered masks, gloves and hand sanitizer for use at polling places on June 2. Pate’s office has also sent social distancing markers and face shields to all 99 counties for use at the polls. Pate has encouraged Iowans to vote early, with an absentee ballot, but those who wish may still vote at a polling place on June 2nd.

Pate cautions, though, that with fewer Primary Day polling places and all the public health precautions of the pandemic — like fewer voting booths at each location — it will take longer than five minutes to vote. Pate made his comments on the “Iowa Press” program on Iowa P-B-S.