Madison, Wisconsin Turnout Rises Past 50 Percent — State Casualty Numbers Expected in Weeks

Wisconsin elections thrust on the people in the middle
of a deadly pandemic may have solved the Milwaukee
turnout problem for a generation. Republicans
don't care how people die as a result of their reckless acts.
Photo: Patricia McKnight of Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Update: "It was just absurd," Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said, referring to the April 7 elections Republicans imposed upon an outraged Wisconsin public. "I mean, first of all, why would you think it's appropriate to hold an election when you have to dress that way as a poll worker? But two, the haves and the have-nots. I guess, if you're the speaker (dressed in personal protective equipment), [Rep Robin Vos (R-Rochester, Wisconsin)] that's what you get. If you're everyone else, you get what you get."(WKOW-TV, (Madison))

Madison, Wisconsin — The Madison city clerk reports turnout surpassed 50 percent at 4:00 Wednesday morning.

That figure is expected to climb.

Considering the risk and massive voter suppression work of the Republicans Party at multiple levels and branches of government, 50-some percent is a miracle.

Local officials expressed outrage at state leaders for not postponing the dangerous elections.

An election casualty list is not expected until two weeks.

Unofficial @CityofMadison turnout numbers (with additional absentees pending until 4/13): 87,552 ballots. 50.3%

Absentees counted today: 61,279

April 2016 turnout: 66%#MadisonVotes2020 #MadisonWI

— Madison WI Clerk (@MadisonWIClerk) April 8, 2020

Outrage at Republicans who thrust Wisconsin citizens into the coronavirus COVID 19 storm may have created a "Vos effect," a determination to vote against Republicans.

Rep Robin Vos (R-Rochester, Wisconsin) is the Speaker of the gerrymandered state assembly who successfully worked to kill efforts to postpone the April 7 elections.

Wisconsin Goes to Polls amid Pandemic; 'Lives at Risk for No Reason,' Says Dane County Clerk

Gov Evers Admin Refuses Stay-at-Home Order to Halt Elections

Long and dangerous lines of people at
Marshall High School in Milwaukee.
Photo: Kristen Clarke

Updated - Madison, Wisconsin — Wisconsin is conducting its presidential primary and other elections today to outrage across the state in the middle of a deadly public health crisis, (Schmidt, Vetterkind, Wisconsin State Journal).

Public health professionals, local officials and the public are in a word, incensed.

"Health officials have said in-person voting presents a large risk to public health and creates a situation where the virus will spread."

Across Wisconsin, more than 2,400 cases of coronavirus have been reported as of Monday, with 1,300 in Milwaukee County alone," writes Molly Beck in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Just heard from voter who just voted at Hamilton in Milwaukee that the wait was 1 hour and 40 minutes to vote https://t.co/55K8WbpAnc

— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) April 7, 2020

Wisconsin Republicans have maneuvered in the Republican-controlled, state and federal courts and the legislature to move the elections forward, no matter the costs.

What a disgrace. Requiring that your residents compromise their health or forego what they see as the most significant act of civic participation available to them is deranged. https://t.co/PkEriZd5R8

— Berny Belvedere (@bernybelvedere) April 7, 2020

Gerrymandering has resulted in a Republican Party so malicious towards the public, the Party is unrecognizable from its predecessors 20 years ago.

In the 2016 Wisconsin presidential primary, 2,976,150 voters cast their ballots.

Fearing for their lives today, many voters will stay home, and will depress turnout numbers far-below 2016.

Absentee ballots have been requested in record numbers, but 1,282,762 absentee applications will see likely 10,000s of ballots never counted, due to staff shortages and poor voter education during the crisis.

The state that pioneered public health systems and zoonotic (virus creation and animal-to human) research 60 years now sees academic and medical professionals' work dismissed.

Protestors driving in cars gathered at the City-County building driving around the block early this morning as a rebuke to legislative Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers (D).

Evers has contorted himself in his evolving positions on halting the elections the last week.

First, Evers claimed there is nothing he can do; then he issued an 11th-hour executive order banning elections, and finally refused a stay-at-home order to halt perhaps the most reckless gamble in this state's history.

In late April, as deaths and infections continue across the state, Wisconsin is likely to pay for Republican malice and the criminal weakness of its Democratic governor.

Republican judges on the Wisconsin Supreme Court are credibly refred to as killers.

This is Wisconsin today.

What Republicans and Gov Evers have accomplished today is unforgivable.

In Milwaukee, amid a #CoronavirusPandemic, only 5 of 180 polling places are open for today.

In Waukesha, only 1 polling place is open.

The lines are already overwhelming.

Wear safety gear. Bring your own ✏️.

Protect yourself. Protect democracy.pic.twitter.com/S0DnbMGMmO

— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) April 7, 2020

Hello from Madison, Wisconsin. It's Election Day. pic.twitter.com/U7X7AmPzTm

— Shawn Johnson (@SJohnsonWPR) April 7, 2020

From Alex Larson and Amy Thomas in Milwaukee, (Facebook)

An update from the front lines in Milwaukee from my friend Alex Larson: These shots below and right were just shared to a neighborhood group I am in. This is my polling place today at Riverside High School. Polls open at 7 and there’s already huge lines. So now I’m a disenfranchised voter, because no way am I going out there with this much potential exposure, IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

Not only that, but as someone with cerebral palsy, standing on my feet for that long

just isn’t feasible. This wouldn’t have occurred if the election had been delayed and we could have the 180 polling places in Milwaukee like we normally do. Now we just have five! My other option is to drop off my absentee ballot at city hall. The ride there, the ride back, and getting a witness means I’m exposed to 3 people, at the very least. Again, this is IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

Watch for the surge in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks. It’s going to occur. Any flattening of the curve, which Wisconsin was doing a great job of, is going to go out the window. The inaction of our Governor and the complete disregard for health and safety by the Republican Party are responsible for this, and any deaths that come as a result. This is fucking outrageous.

Dane County, Wisconsin County Clerk Wants April 7 Elections Delayed for Safety and Fair Vote

Madison, Wisconsin — The Dane County, (Wisconsin) County Clerk is calling on Gov Tony Evers (D) to halt Wisconsin's April 7 elections.

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 ‼️

Li-Lin Cheng

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.

Madison, Wisconsin Mayor Hits Gov Decision to Hold April 7 Elections in Column

Madison, Wisconsin — Madison, Wisconsin's mayor posted a column this afternoon saying postponing the April 7 elections is needed to ensure safe and fair elections.

Gov Tony Evers (D) faces mounting criticism for his refusal to delay the elections.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin is the site of the 2020 Democratic National Convention, and Evers stands accused among many Wisconsin citizens of making political decisions out of perceived loyalty to the Democratic Party which wants the election to go forward.

On Monday, Madison filed a brief pdf  in federal court "asking the court to postpone the election for at least three weeks, allow all elected officials to remain in office until their successors are elected, and consider ordering a full mail-in ballot election," writes Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway in her column today.

The issue is headed to federal court this week with two cases consolidated before Judge William M. Conley, United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

The case is DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE and DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN,Plaintiffs,vs.MARGE BOSTELMANN, JULIE M. GLANCEY, ANN S. JACOBS, DEAN KNUDSON, ROBERT F. SPINDELL, JR., and MARK L. THOMSEN, in their official capacities as Wisconsin Elections Commissioners. (Civil Action No. 3:20-cv-249-wmc)

Evers may reverse his decision soon, seven days out from Election Day.

The column on the city of Madison, Wisconsin website is reproduced below.
--
Wisconsin is the Only State in the Nation Moving Forward with an Election at this Stage of the Pandemic, Madison is Asking a Federal Court to Postpone the Election, Consider Mail-in Ballot

By Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway

Every state with an election scheduled in the middle of their COVID-19 outbreak has decided to postpone the election – every state except Wisconsin – making our state a national outlier pdf  and not in a good way. 

Last Friday, Governor Evers asked for absentee ballots be sent to all voters. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald called the idea a “complete fantasy.” But it is clearly the right way to go. 

The scientists and specialists at the UW Applied Population Lab share my concern pdf  that an in-person election on April 7th creates a significant risk to our efforts to slow the spread.

“Given the speed of COVID-19’s spread within Madison, Dane County, and the State of Wisconsin at this time, we feel strongly that asking voters to attend in-person voting as usual presents an unreasonable risk to individual voters, poll workers, and the general public.” In addition, “polling places are inherently high-contact settings which involve many individuals coming into close contact and touching the same objects over the course of a day.”

Due to these urgent concerns, the City of Madison filed a brief pdf  in federal court asking the court to postpone the election for at least three weeks, allow all elected officials to remain in office until their successors are elected, and consider ordering a full mail-in ballot election. The issue is headed to federal court this week with two cases consolidated before Judge William M. Conley, United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

With all the evidence in front of me, I can only conclude that the best way – and perhaps the only way – to hold a fair and safe election is to postpone it. 

Election Day Safety: 

In this period of uncertainty, ensuring fair, accessible, and safe elections on April 7th has been one of my top priorities for many weeks now. In an astonishing feat the City Clerk has processed some 70,000 absentee ballots. 

At the same time, City staff have been working hard to prepare for an in-person election and to keep it safe. The plans they’ve created to keep poll workers and voters safe on Election Day are impressive. Staff are searching for and even fabricating plastic face shields and Plexiglas barriers to protect both poll workers and voters from interfacing directly with each other. They’re planning for as much curbside voting as possible, and supplying each polling station with hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray, and gloves. On Election Day they’ll work to maintain at least 6 feet between poll workers and voters.

And yet challenges remain. We need 1,500 poll workers to manage the voting process on April 7th. To date, more than 1,000 volunteer poll workers have cancelled. And I can understand why – many are seniors who we’ve stressed should stay home. We’re working to recruit new volunteers, but admittedly must target folks in their 20s, 30s, and 40s – the age bracket with the highest rates of positive tests for COVID-19. In addition, we’ve received cancellations from several polling locations. We’re down to 66 polling locations, from an original 92. Combining multiple wards into a single location is our only solution at this point, but this will create larger gatherings and challenge our social distancing goals. 

You can stay updated on polling place changes here. 

Absentee Fairness and Access: 

Sending each voter a mail-in ballot is the best option to help slow the spread of COVID-19. But I believe a fair and accessible all-absentee election is impossible to achieve by April 7th. The logistics of managing an all-absentee process require more time to put in place – and further strain a Clerk’s Office workforce that has already been under immense pressure and is beyond exhaustion. 

The Clerk’s Office expected and planned for issuing 6,000-8,000 absentee ballot requests this spring. By now, they have sent out 70,000. They’ve struggled to find enough ballot envelopes and enough mailing labels, and they’ve worked 90-110 hour work weeks to manage the volume of requests, losing sleep and straining their own immune systems in the process. Producing tens of thousands more absentee ballots on the current schedule is not possible.

I also question whether an all-absentee election can be fair under our current rules and timeframe. The Madison Clerk’s Office takes hundreds of phone calls a day from voters who are struggling to navigate the online system or who live alone and cannot get a witness to sign their ballot. 

An all-absentee election, while safer, comes with its own set of logistical and accessibility issues that cannot be solved without more time and resources. Shifting the method of voting without shifting the date does not solve our problems.

With all of these factors in mind, I can only come to one conclusion: we must postpone the April 7th election to keep everybody safe and to keep our elections fair.