Scott McDonell has been reportedly been hearing complaints from Dane County citizens and public officials, former public official, and evaluating public health data on the transmission of coronavirus COIVD 19 from public health professionals, (Public Health, Madison and Dane County).
McDonnell wrote last night on Facebook:
I am convinced this election can not be run in a fair and safe manner on April 7. I have asked the County Board to authorize an amicus brief asking for a delay of the April 7 election.
The safety risk of voters and election workers is too great to risk. The chance of errors due to confusion, crowding and over work is great. The likelihood of thousands of ballots being returned after statutory deadline through no fault of the voter or clerk is very high calling into question the legitimacy of the election.
I am grateful that County Executive Parisi agrees with this assessment and that the County Board has scheduled this for Thursday's County Board meeting. I urge voters who agree to share this post and to email the County Board that you support Resolution 582 at county_board_recipients@countyofdane.com
Gov Evers has the authority to effectively ban Election Day, in-person voting by virtue of his power during this public safety emergency.
Janel Heinrich, Director, Public Health Madison and Dane County sent a memo to the Madison City Attorney and Mayor dated March 30, entitled, "April 7th election and COVID-19: Urgent need to postpone and move to mail-in ballots only, " (Appendix. Public Health, Madison and Dane County memo).
Evers can issue a new, superseding Emergency Order through Health Sec.-designate Palm that bans public-planned, state-sanctioned gatherings that would preclude holding in-person voting on Election Day, as empowered by the Heath Emergency of March 12.
Evers is close to banning such polling place gatherings as will be heal on Election Day, in Palm's subsequent March 17 Emergency Order 5 - Prohibiting Mass Gatherings of Ten People or More.
Wisconsin is in a public health state of emergency, per Executive Order 72, Relating to Declaring a Health Emergency in Response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus — March 12, 2020.
But Evers has been reluctant to buck the Democratic National Committee in a year that sees Wisconsin hosting the Democratic National Convention in July.
Democratic-leaning sources say Evers has come under mounting pressure from the public health community, and is jeopardizing the political support of his base.
Wisconsin citizens on social media have been excoriating Gov Evers:
Christine Headson He should stand up for his constituents and to the citizens of Wisconsin for whom he took an oath to protect ! Have courage Governor Evers ‼️
Maybe Governor Evers believes that the best cheese and microbrewery beer have made us Wisconsinites immune to Coronavirus pandemic?
Check out the blog of Mayor of Madison Satya Rhodes-Conway. Never mind what I said about Wisconsin cheese and beer. As someone who was a virologist, I find this unique approach of our Governor Evers very strange and concerning. BTW, nearly 60% of the polling stations do not have enough work force come next Tuesday on Election Day.
Tony C. Saladino You cannot self-quarantine and go to the polls.
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