Chance for online registration extended
By Tracy Ouellette
Staff Writer
Walworth County Clerk Kim Bushey is calling on residents of Walworth County willing to serve as back up poll workers for the April 7 election to contact her office.
“We just want to make sure that the local municipalities have the resources they need to conduct the election and one of the most important resources are the election inspectors,” Bushey said Monday afternoon.
A significant number of the current poll workers, also known as election inspectors, in the county are in their 60s and 70s, considered a higher risk of being affected by COVID-19, Bushey stated in a press release.
“We need to protect these people,” Bushey said. “So many of our inspectors are in the age group that’s at the most risk. We don’t want them working the polls and putting themselves in danger.”
Bushey said she’s hoping a large number of younger people step up and offer to help run the polls during election day.
“We’re trying to act as a resource for the municipal leaders by creating a ‘backup’ list so they can call and get the help they need,” she said Monday.
In Wisconsin, poll workers are appointed at the municipal level so people can also contact their local municipal office to volunteer during the election. Training to be a poll worker takes about an hour.
Those interested in helping out on election day should email County_Clerk @co.walworth.wi.us.
To be added to the backup poll worker list, the county will need the volunteer’s name, mailing address, municipality of residence, contact phone number and email address. The county Clerk’s Office will provide this information to local municipal clerks who may need additional help on election day.
“The municipal clerks need help, they’re working so hard right now and we really appreciate all they’re doing, but this is a unique situation and we’re just trying to find the best way to keep people safe, municipal staff included, and give everyone the opportunity to vote,” Bushey said.
Online voter registration extended
The deadline to register online at MyVote Wisconsin, myvote.wi.gov, has been extended to March 30.
Bushey said this takes some of the pressure off of local municipal clerks having to process in-person registration along with in-person absentee voting.
“We’re encouraging people to go to MyVote, get registered and request an absentee ballot right now. They have until next Monday and it’s the easiest and safest way to vote at the moment.”
Vote absentee if possible
Walworth County officials are urging voters to vote absentee for the April 7 spring election and presidential preference vote to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
“Polls will be open throughout Walworth County for those who need them on election day, but most voters should vote absentee for this election,” Bushey stated in a press release last week. “For that to happen, you should request an absentee ballot as soon as possible. You should also consider requesting making your absentee ballot request by mail or online.”
There are several ways registered voters can request absentee ballots. If they have internet access, the easiest way is to sign up at MyVote Wisconsin, myvote.wi.gov.
Just look for the “Vote Absentee” button near the top of the page. On a mobile phone, use the menu button in the upper right corner of the website. There is a three-step process that starts with putting in your name and date of birth, followed by requesting your ballot.
For those who don’t already have a photo ID on file with they clerk’s office, they can upload a copy. Mobile phone users can take a picture of their ID and upload it to MyVote. Absentee ballot requests submitted this way go directly to their clerk’s office, and they can track their ballot by returning to the website.
Voters can also request absentee ballots by mailing, emailing or faxing their municipal clerk’s office. Municipal clerk’s contact information can be found on MyVote Wisconsin. These requests must be accompanied by a copy of a photo ID.
If voters already have a photo ID on file from previous absentee requests under their current registration, they will not need to provide it again.
Voters who are indefinitely confined, meaning they may have difficulty getting to the polls for reason of age, illness, infirmity, or disability are not required to provide a photo ID. Voters in care facilities can have a representative of the facility confirm the resident’s identity instead of providing a photo ID. More information on photo ID and exemptions can be found at bringit.wi.gov.
The deadline for registered voters to request an absentee ballot be mailed to them is the Thursday before the election, April 2. However, Bushey urges voters not to wait, due to possible delays in mail delivery.
“Your absentee ballot must be received in your clerk’s office or at your polling place by 8 p.m. on election day,” she said, adding that voters should return their ballots as soon as possible once they have received them.
