Area clerks ‘swamped’ as early voters flock to cast their ballots
By Tracy Ouellette
Staff Writer
The impact of early voting was one of the subjects discussed at the recent semi-annual Waterford “super board” meeting.
The Oct. 23 meeting included representatives from the villages of Waterford and Rochester and towns of Norway and Waterford, along with all the area public school districts – Waterford Union High, Washington-Caldwell, Waterford Graded, North Cape and Drought. During the group’s round table discussion, Town of Norway Chairperson Jean Jacobson raised the subject of early voting and asked about the impact experienced by the other municipalities.
“We can’t get anything done,” Jacobson said. “It’s very costly for us.”
Bob Langmesser, Town of Waterford chairman, said the response to early voting has been “huge” at the town hall, with the clerks very busy.
“That’s all they are doing,” Langmesser said. “It’s good, though, I like to see people vote.”
Waterford Town Clerk Tina Mayer confirmed her office hasn’t had much opportunity to get other work done in the last few weeks.
“We try to squeeze other things in here and there, but so far no one has come to the window wanting anything else,” Mayer said.
But she thinks early voting is a positive thing, Mayer added, both for the town and its residents. “It makes it easier for people to vote if they have to work.”
Village of Rochester Clerk Betty Novy said early voting has been a challenge for her office – especially since the village is in the middle of the budget process and preparing to move offices into the new Village Hall early next year.
But Novy was pragmatic, saying it’s part of the job they’re there to do.
“You just have to clear everything out and know that’s all you’re going to be doing,” Novy said.
The Village of Waterford has seen a steady stream of early voters, according to Village Clerk Vikki Zuehlke.
Close to 1,000 early voters – both walk-ins and mail-ins – had voted as of mid-week. The village has about 2,400 registered voters.
Some part-time help has been hired to assist with the additional duties, noted Village Treasurer Lori Peternell.
Town of Norway Clerk Camille Cohen said Tuesday that it’s been busy at the town hall. Like the Village of Waterford, Norway has some poll workers helping out “doing whatever they can” to handle the early voters.
“People have been very kind about standing in line because they know they won’t have to stand in line on Election Day. So far, it’s gone smoothly,” Cohen said.
Town of Dover Clerk Marilyn Rudrud said her office has been “swamped” with the extra duties required to handle early voting.
Like the other local clerks, Rudrud and her part-time deputy clerk haven’t been able to find much time to work on anything else. “It’s lots of extra work,” she said.
Early voting is also costly, she added, noting that postage for absentee ballots is 65 cents apiece each way, and Dover township has paid well over $100 in mailing costs for this election. “We’re a small town with a very tight budget,” she said.
Some early voters are asking why the state seems to be pushing early voting, Rudrud said.
In the past, people voted absentee for reasons such as being home bound or out of town on Election Day. But now no reason needs to be given and many people vote early mainly to avoid waiting in line on Election Day.
“I have mixed feelings about it,” Rudrud said.
Jill Kopp recently took over the position of clerk/treasurer in the Village of Union Grove. She says absentee voting has proven to be popular and her office has been busy just like everyone else.
“We haven’t had to bring in any extra help but it has been challenging to get our normal day-to-day work finished,” Kopp said.
“But we have a good team here and work well together so I know we’ll get through it.”
Editor Patricia Bogumil contributed to this report.
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