‘I’m Scared’: Wisconsin Election Places Ballot Staff at Danger of Virus

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‘I’m Scared’: Wisconsin Election Places Ballot Staff at Danger of Virus

They've pointed to a surge in absentee poll requests — now at 1.1 million — as an indicator that in-person turnout will likely be manageable. (Elec


They’ve pointed to a surge in absentee poll requests — now at 1.1 million — as an indicator that in-person turnout will likely be manageable. (Elections officers estimated in a court docket listening to on Wednesday that, in a traditional election, that quantity would counsel that about 500,000 voters would nonetheless present up on the polls.)

On Friday, Mr. Evers eased his stance, asking the Legislature to order the election fee to mail ballots to each registered voter and prolong vote-by-mail deadlines.

However Republican lawmakers dismissed his pleas as fantasy and vowed once more to carry the election. Robin Vos, the speaker of the State Meeting, mentioned he can be working on the polls on Tuesday.

The letter to Mr. Evers mentioned that 50 clerks had responded to a message despatched to a clerks-only electronic mail record asking them to share in the event that they or members of the family had compromised well being. The responses ran the gamut: Some folks had been most cancers survivors or had been at the moment present process chemotherapy. Others had diabetes, kidney illness or autoimmune issues, or had been taking immunosuppressants. Relations had lung illness, bronchial asthma, coronary heart issues and a number of different points.

Ms. Goeckner, who’s in her 50s, doesn’t have a spleen and donated a kidney eight years in the past, mentioned that whereas she was involved about her well being, she was extra fearful about her older colleagues. Her husband, who can be a clerk, oversees a 91-year-old ballot employee who insists that she is going to present up on Election Day if voting takes place.

“We’re not listed as important employees, however mainly being thought-about important employees,” Ms. Goeckner mentioned. “We’re not complaining as clerks. I need folks to know the chance that’s being requested and the truth that I consider there are different protected options to soak up this stage.”

Throughout the state, ballot employees have assessed that danger and are staying residence. Karen Molitor, who described herself as “within the weak class, over 65” and has served as a ballot employee in Inexperienced Bay for the final 12 years, had deliberate on working till Tuesday, when she noticed state tips recommending that folks her age not work.



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