Thanks to the 895 voters in Ward 78 (Thoreau School is your polling place) who voted in person or by absentee ballot in the spring primary on February 19.
Another election is right around the corner, on April 2. There are contests for state Supreme Court Justice, Mayor, Alder, and three school board seats, so don’t sit this one out.
We all know how terrible the weather has been. Several voters arrived to vote quite shaken by their treacherous journey to the polls. So I wanted to be sure everyone is aware of these options:
1.) Request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. You can do this online (MyVote.wi.gov), at the clerk’s office, or at a Madison Public Library.
2.) If, due to age or infirmity, you find getting to the polls too challenging, you can request a permanent absentee ballot. As long as you always return your absentee ballot, one will continue to be mailed to you. You won’t need to request one at every election.
Caveats on mailing in absentee ballots: Be sure to follow all the instructions about signing your certificate envelope, having it witnessed, having the witness include their full residential address, and returning the ballot in time to be counted.
In the city of Madison, 129 absentee ballots arrived at the clerk’s office too late to be counted in the spring primary! If it gets to be too late to trust the mail, you can have someone hand-deliver it to the clerk’s office, to an in-person absentee voting site (library), or to the polls on Election Day.
3.) Vote in person by absentee ballot at the library or at a campus location. It is usually easier to park and less far to walk. You can choose a day that’s convenient and when the weather is manageable. Evening and weekend times are available, too.
4.) If you are not feeling well or are otherwise unable to get inside the polling place on Election Day, you can arrange for curbside voting. Two election workers will come out to the car with your ballot, wait while you vote the ballot, then return with it and place it in the tabulator. You can arrange a time with the clerk in advance, or look for a sign outside the building with the Clerk’s office phone number to call. They will contact the chief inspector at the polling place and someone will come out to you as soon as possible. Or, if someone is driving you, that person can come inside and request the curbside service for you.
We’re hoping for nicer weather in April, but this is Wisconsin, after all! Please remember that there are options for you if the weather makes voting a challenge.
And don’t forget your photo ID!
Madison Clerk’s Elections and Voting website: http://www.cityofmadison.com/clerk/elections-voting/
Phone: (608) 266-4601
Brook Soltvedt
Chief Inspector, Ward 78
