COVID-19 AND THE SPRING ELECTION
Due to concerns about the ongoing spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus, Wisconsin officials are urging voters to participate in the Spring election by voting absentee.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN HOW TO CAST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
Governor Evers has issued Executive Order #72 proclaiming a public health emergency in Wisconsin as a result of the Coronavirus.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has issued guidance and taken several actions designed to help mitigate concerns about COVID-19 Coronavirus in advance of the April 7 Spring Election.
Residents in nursing homes and care facilities or other locations where vulnerable populations live will be mailed absentee ballots by their municipal clerks.
More information about COVID-19 guidance to clerks is posted on the Commission’s website.
UPDATE: ABSENTEE VOTING DEADLINES HAVE CHANGED
The deadline for voters to return absentee ballots to local clerks has been modified. Ballots must be POSTMARKED by Election Day, April 7, and received by April 13.
MORE INFORMATION FROM THE WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
Top 10 Things Voters Should Know about the April 7 Spring Election and Presidential Primary - COVID-19
MADISON, WI – Wisconsin’s Spring Primary and Presidential Primary will occur on Tuesday, April 7, and all absentee ballots must be turned in or postmarked on Election Day as a result of decisions Monday by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and United States Supreme Court.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court enjoined an executive order by Governor Tony Evers, clearing the way for in-person voting at the polls to occur on Tuesday, April 7.
The United States Supreme Court enjoined an order from the U.S. District Court regarding deadlines and postmarks for absentee ballots. Ballots must be returned to the polling place or the clerk’s office by 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, or postmarked by April 7 and received by the clerk by 4 p.m. Monday, April 13.
Hundreds of thousands of voters will likely be heading to the polls Tuesday in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s what they should know:
“How and where you vote may have changed because of COVID-19,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief elections official. “Local election officials are prepared for Election Day with sanitation supplies and have been trained on social distancing procedures and other guidance developed with a public health official. Now, we’re asking voters to be careful and patient if they go to the polls on Tuesday.”
Wolfe offered these important reminders to voters:
1. Voters with absentee ballots must return them or mail them on Election Day.
2. Because of poll worker shortages, your polling place may have changed due to consolidation. Before heading out to vote, please double-check your polling location at myvote.wi.gov. Click “Find My Polling Place.”
3. Wash your hands before heading to your polling place on Election Day. Hand hygiene is essential for a safe voting experience for everyone at the polls. Also, wash or sanitize your hands again when arriving at your polling place and before voting. A 70% alcohol spray solution will be available at most polling places.
4. Things will look different at your polling place. Social distancing and public health related changes have been made to each polling place for this election.
5. Please be patient when voting at the polls. The public health procedures being used will slow down some parts of the process when you have to interact with poll workers.
6. You may be asked to line up outside your polling place or voting area to ensure only a safe number of voters are in the voting area at one time.
7. Social distancing is essential even at your polling place on Election Day. There will be procedures in place to allow for six feet between voters and poll workers to ensure a safe voting experience for everyone.
8. Please keep your face-to-face interactions brief with both poll workers and other voters. We want to limit the risk for everyone in the process on Election Day.
9. If you are ill and still need to vote on Election Day, curbside voting options are available.
10. If you received an absentee ballot, you can return it at your polling place on Election Day if you have not yet returned it to your municipal clerk’s office.