ACTION ALERT: Vote in Today’s Spring Election

TODAY IS ELECTION DAY

With the chaos and changes surrounding COVID-19, information regarding Wisconsin’s Spring Election has been difficult to track. We’re here to help. If you’ve already requested, filled out, and sent in your absentee ballot, THANK YOU.

For those who have not yet cast a ballot, there is still time to safely and lawfully vote to keep a pro-life, constitutional judge on our state’s highest bench.

Why the Confusion?

Since Governor Evers instated the Shelter-in-Place order weeks ago, many have raised concerns about the April 7th election. Social distancing requirements and school closures limit polling locations and workers. Leaders from political parties and organizations encouraged voters to request absentee ballots online. When Governor Evers called the Legislature to require the Wisconsin Elections Commission to send all registered voters an absentee ballot, however, the Elections Commission protested, stating that they did not have enough ballots, staff, or time to do so.

Last week, a federal judge ruled that absentee ballots requested for the spring election would count if they were received by 4 p.m. April 13. The state GOP appealed the decision. Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court overturned the decision and ruled that the original deadline for absentee ballots – the April 7th postmark – stands. This means that if you have an absentee ballot and have not mailed it in, you must mail it or physically submit it today. 

Yesterday, Governor Evers issued an executive order, moving the election date from April 7th to June 9th. He stated that although all absentee ballots already submitted would still be counted, in-person voting would be moved to June 9th. Within hours, the state Supreme Court overturned the Governor’s order. This means that in-person voting is taking place today.

How Do We Proceed?

If you have not already voted early or absentee, or if you have requested an absentee ballot but have not yet received it by mail, you can vote in-person today from 7:00am – 8:00pm at your polling place. Here are some other need-to-knows:

• Many municipalities have changed their usual polling locations, so be sure to check myvote.wi.gov to see where to go.
• Don’t be alarmed if you see uniformed military personnel! Because of the shortage of poll workers, Governor Evers has activated the Wisconsin National Guard to help run many polling locations.
• Clerks are working diligently to ensure each polling place is as safe as possible. To help prevent the spread, many are encouraging voters to bring hand sanitizer and their own pens.
• Social distancing recommendations will be followed at the sites, so expect delays. There are also fewer polling locations in many areas, which could also increase wait time.

If you received your ballot by mail but have not yet submitted it, many municipalities are recommending voters drop off their ballots at certified sites rather than mail them. This will ensure that the ballot is received by the deadline and thus counted. Many towns are using their library book drops or other such locations for ballot drops. You can also drop off your ballot at your clerk’s office. To see where the drop-off locations are in your area, check with your municipal clerk’s office. You can find their contact information at myvote.wi.gov. 

What’s the Big Deal?

If the chaos of yesterday taught us anything, it is the importance of judicial elections. Today, Wisconsin is voting to elect a Supreme Court Justice. There are also other important judicial elections (view our candidate comparisons here).

We need to make sure Justice Dan Kelly keeps his seat on our state’s highest bench. He loyally upholds the rule of law and serves only to interpret the Constitution. His opponent, a social justice warrior, will no doubt muddle the balance of power between our three branches of government by attempting to legislate from the bench. She has compared abortion to getting wisdom teeth removed and has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood. She is too extreme for us.

Our state’s Constitution and our pro-life legislation that protects the lives of unborn children are on the line. We must vote.