Voters head to the polls again

For the third time in three months, voters are heading to the polls again Tuesday after more than 900,000 people signed recall petitions.

Now voters face some choices as Republican Gov. Scott Walker and his 2010 opponent, Democrat Tom Barrett, face off for the remainder of Walker’s term.

Voters also have to decide whether Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch will keep her seat or if it will go to Democrat Mitchell Mahlon.

While the lieutenant governor seats would normally be determined by the elected governor’s party affiliation, a quirk in Wisconsin law gives voters the opportunity to vote for the governor and lieutenant governor separately.

However voters decide to cast their ballot this time around, some things have changed since the 2010 gubernatorial race for many voters in Douglas County.

Voting laws have changed. Voters may even not need to prove who they are with photo identification before they can cast their ballot — the issue remains under court injunction. But, you will need a pen.

Voters are required to sign the poll book before a ballot is issued unless a disability prevents them from physically capable of signing the book.

Residency requirements have changed as well, from 10 days to 28 consecutive days in the district. Voters can no longer use a corroborating witness to register to vote.

People may register and vote in person in the City Clerk’s Office through 5 p.m. today, but no office registration or absentee voting is permitted after that until Tuesday’s election.

The biggest change for city residents is the council’s decision to consolidate polling locations.

While residents of the 5th, 7th and 9th Council Districts will vote where they did before, voters living in other districts throughout the city will be heading to the polls in different locations.

Voters in the 5th and 7th Districts — Poll Site No. 3 — who vote at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College, and those in the 9th who vote at Billings Park Civic Center — Poll Site No. 4 — will continue to vote in those locations. Residents of the 8th District who voted at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, also vote at the Billings Park Civic Center.

Other changes in city polling locations will have people who voted at Bryant Elementary School and Wessman Arena in the past voting at Poll Site No. 1 at the Richard I. Bong Airport, 4804 Hammond Ave.; Belgian Club and Christ Lutheran Church voters casting ballots Poll Site No. 2, Zion Lutheran Church, 2022 E. Second St.; and voters who cast ballots at the Government Center and Peter Rich Community Center voting at Poll Site No. 5, the Salvation Army, 916 Hughitt Ave.

The new sites were adopted by the city council in November, before the wave of elections this spring.

Rural residents of Douglas County will continue to cast their ballots at their usual polling locations. Residents living in the villages cast their votes in their community at the Lake Nebagamon Auditorium, village halls in Oliver, Poplar and Superior, and the Solon Springs Community Center.

Polling locations are at town halls in most rural communities except in Maple and Oakland. Ballots are cast at the community center in Maple and at the fire hall/town garage in Oakland.

For more information, visit www.douglascountywi.org/index.aspx?NID=140 or call the municipal clerk in your community. Voters can confirm their polling location and view a sample ballot at Voter Public Access https://vpa.wi.

gov, or call the City Clerk’s Office at (715) 395-7200 with questions.

Tags: news, politics