Local municipalities alter procedures to minimize spread of coronavirus
By Mike Ramczyk
Correspondent
Amid controversy surrounding the coronavirus, Wisconsin went through with its Spring Election Tuesday, and the area took charge in promoting both worker and voter safety.
The state Supreme Court late Monday overturned Gov.
Tony Evers’ request to postpone election proceedings, and the show went on.
Voters in the Burlington, Waterford and Union Grove areas had mixed reactions to voting in-person.
“It seems a little ridiculous considering the Safer-at-Home order,” said Steven Richard, 33, Burlington. “With the nature of what’s going on in the world right now and how much we don’t know…but it seems a little safer here than other places I’ve seen.”
The sentiment was different Tuesday at the Village of Union Grove, where locals expressed it as a “duty” to vote.
“Yes, totally,” said Catherine Greiner, Union Grove, when asked if she feels safe. “It’s my duty as an American. I just take precautions. This is a duty, and I don’t think this virus should be scaring people away. Amen.”
Burlington takes lead on safety
The scene was chaotic at the Department of Public Works facility on South Pine Street Tuesday.
With strictly drive-up voting, some 60-plus volunteers dressed in full protective gowns and masks welcomed two lines of cars under the building’s shop area, where lines of 10-15 cars stacked up at times.
Drivers were directed to keep their windows closed, and workers slipped ballots and pens through cracked windows, using new ones for each person. People filled out ballots in their cars and handed them back to the workers, who formed lines and inserted them into the vote tabulators.
Twelve media outlets covered Burlington’s event, and each person had his or her temperature taken and were given masks and gloves. They also had to fill out a survey to determine whether he or she had come in contact with any sick people or were experiencing symptoms of illness.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, City Clerk Diahnn Halbach said it was “non-stop” in terms of voters. Out of 6,000 registered city voters, nearly 2,000 absentee ballots had been returned. Halbach said more than 2,000 people showed up to vote in-person.
Numbers down in Union Grove
Union Grove Village Clerk Brad Calder said Tuesday numbers were way down.
“Everything has been very smooth, but it’s a very low in-person turnout. We’re probably at 250 right now,” Calder said around 6 p.m.
“We’re down 25 percent. We’re taking the best steps we can to be safe. We’ve been following the guidance of the state Elections Commission, and we have supplies for everybody.”
Large plastic shields separated voters from workers, but it was up to the individual on whether to wear a mask.
About half of the workers wore masks, and none were in protective suits. The majority of voters did not wear masks.
“Time will tell how effective our precautions are,” Calder added.
Smooth operation in Waterford
In the Village of Waterford, cars were directed in front of the Village Hall to register before driving next-door to the library to vote.
Three lines were formed, and workers wearing gloves and masks approached driver-side windows, where they handed out ballots and new pens for each person.
Village President Don Houston said drive-up was the safest method.
He said many voters thanked officials for allowing them to vote during these uncertain times.
Village Clerk Rachel Ladewig said numbers were a little low as of Tuesday night at 7 p.m.
“It’s almost 50 percent absentee voting,” she added.
For the complete version of this story see the April 9 edition of the Burlington Standard Press or the April 10 editions of the Waterford Post and Westine Report.
What about results?
Results from Tuesday’s election won’t be released to the public until Monday, April 13, according to Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen. The delay will give local clerks time to count the heavier-than-normal volume of absentee ballots and account for any late-arriving mailed ballots that are postmarked April 7 or earlier. The cutoff for the mailed ballots is 4 p.m. April 13.
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