The Push for Safety and Security: Voting in Milwaukee

Remember back to the presidential primaries in April. The city of Milwaukee was dealing with about 2,000 Coronavirus cases, an increasingly hostile and divisive election, and only five polling places for voters to voice their opinions.

It is now less than one week until the presidential election and Milwaukee has recorded thousands more Coronavirus cases since April. But instead of just five polling places, the city will have 173 locations to vote in-person.

2020 is something no one could have predicted

Claire Woodall-Vogg, executive director of the Wisconsin Election Commission

The city of Milwaukee is more prepared for in-person voting this November than last spring. According to Reid Magney, public relations officer for the Wisconsin Election Commission, the commission has been planning for the presidential election since March.  

“I think Milwaukee is doing a good job in being prepared,” said Magney. “The procedures we have in place are safe, if people follow those procedures there shouldn’t be any issues.”

The Covid-19 procedures for indoor voting at Milwaukee polling places do not differ from other indoor locations in the city. They include the familiar social distancing, face mask coverage, and continual sanitation of sensitive areas.

Voters are expected but not required to follow the Wisconsin Election Commission safety guidelines, however. 

“It cannot be required under State law,” said Magney. “You cannot say ‘you can only vote if you wear a face covering.’” 

Magney said that poll workers cannot control whether or not a voter wears a face covering. The Election Commission says this could cause tensions between poll workers and voters. Therefore, the commission is limited in the rules and procedures they can enforce.

This year’s presidential election is unprecedented. Besides concerns involving Coronavirus, this election is one of the most politically contentious of our lifetime. Moreover, Wisconsin is a swing State that will be watched closely on Nov. 3. 

“2020 is something no one could have predicted,” said Claire Woodall-Vogg. 

Woodall-Vogg was confirmed as executive director of the WEC in July, when stakes could not have been higher. She said in a recent Zoom call that she has received little sleep in the past week and knows that as Election Day looms, the less sleep she will receive.

About 300,000 people will be voting in the city of Milwaukee this November. About half of those people are expected to be voting by mail. 

The city has already experienced a 1000% increase in mail-in-voting this election cycle in comparison to years past, according to Woodall-Vogg. 

“We have had over a third of our registered voters request absentee ballots by mail, which I think is a very promising statistic, but until early voting gets underway we won’t have a clear idea of whether we will start to break records like we are seeing in other states with voter turnout,” she said.

There are a few reasons why so many Milwaukeeans are voting through the mail. These include Coronavirus concerns, as well as the potential for long waiting lines like those in April. Others feel differently, however.

“As long as everyone is wearing masks and trying to stay distanced from each other, I’m not concerned as far as my own safety,” said Nick Schilling, a 24-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate. “I’m sure there will be long lines, but I don’t view that as a reason to not vote in-person.”

Schilling says that politics are very important to him and that he will be voting for Donald Trump in-person on Nov. 3.

“The economy was doing very well prior to the pandemic and has recovered relatively well since,” said Schilling. “I think he’s done well standing up to China and other countries who use the United States for economic gain and military protection without providing much in return. I think he’ll continue to do that.”

Another perspective comes from Josh Werner, an education major at UWM, who is voting in terms of morals rather than policy.

“The most important thing for me is that Donald Trump doesn’t win the election,” said Werner. I have never been that interested in politics, but I strongly dislike President Trump. It would be a shame for him to be president for another four years.”

Werner will be voting for Joe Biden in-person come Nov. 3, but has concerns that go beyond that of Donald Trump or the Coronavirus. 

“I’m worried about absentee ballots,” said Werner. “The mail is a risky way to vote in my opinion.”

The fear that absentee ballots are not secure is something the current administration, and many others on social media, have perpetuated. 

“We have numerous systems and protections in place to make sure that everything is secure,” said Magney.

The accuracy of election results rely heavily on the ballot counting process.

“My advice would be to make a plan as soon as possible on how you want to vote,” said Magney. “Make your plan, figure out what you’re gonna do, and do it.”

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 29. If voters wait until then to request a ballot, they run the risk of their vote not being counted.

According to Magney, if voters choose to mail their ballots from home they should plan for at least seven days for their ballot to be received and counted. 

Another option is ballot drop boxes. They ensure timely delivery and will be open until 7:30 p.m. on election day. Absentee ballots can also be delivered to the Election Commission office in City Hall.

If voters plan to participate in early voting, which began on Oct. 21, they must research where the nearest early voting place is and go to that location between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. by Nov. 1. 

If voters plan on voting in-person on Election Day they must go to their local polling location and cast their ballot before 8 p.m. As long as voters are in line by then, they can cast a vote.