More than likely you've already heard the news, but it bears repeating: A federal judge has extended the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot for next week's election to 5 p.m. today. If you have not already requested a ballot, you can do so at myvote.wi.gov. The judge also is requiring that absentee ballots be counted as long as they're received by 4 p.m. Monday, April 13.
Our Wisconsin Revolution has been calling for the election to be postponed and continues to urge people to contact their legislators and the governor to urge them to act.
As I posted on Facebook and Twitter the other day, I am alarmed by the irresponsibility being exhibited by the governor and legislative leaders in insisting that the state go forward with in-person voting on April 7 in the midst of this pandemic. I can't see into their hearts, so I won't speculate on their motivations. But whatever their motives are, they are reckless.
We heard from one member of ours that a Republican state representative in the Green Bay area is telling constituents that a constitutional amendment would be required to move the date of the election. This is untrue. The date of the election is set in state law and could be changed anytime before next Tuesday.
We've also been hearing the governor and his supporters saying he can't do anything about the date and it's up to the legislature. This is also untrue. Legislative leaders have been totally and shamefully AWOL, but there are at least three courses of action the governor could take on his own. Instead of saying the election is going forward on April 7 and calling up National Guard troops to try to replace poll workers who've decided to stay away from polling places, the governor could unequivocally say it is impossible to safely hold the election next Tuesday and clearly say it is unconscionable to force people to choose between their health and exercising their right to vote.
Another option for the governor is to call the legislature into special session on the subject of postponing the election to force legislators to vote to make people choose between personal safety and participating in our democracy.
Or, as Milwaukee election attorney Michael Maistelman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the governor could use his emergency powers to delay the election if he determined the current date would threaten the safety of the public. The same emergency powers he used to issue his "safer at home" order. This is what Governor Mike DeWine did in Ohio. It's what many local officials in Wisconsin are begging him to do, including some from his own party.
This election is messed up in more ways than one. If you know Bluto Blutarsky, you'll know why I thought of him when pondering what's become of our presidential primary election.
Be safe, stay healthy! And remember to vote if you haven't already done so, but do it by mail.
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