Monday, March 27, 2023

Covid Chronicles. Chapter 12: Push to Delay Spring Elections

 
Read chapter 11 here

Photo by Retiring Guy

Friday, March 27 

A number of local officials in Wisconsin have sued the state to delay the spring elections, which take place on Tuesday, April 7. Along with city/village councils, school boards, township boards, and county boards, the ballot includes a state Supreme Court race and Wisconsin’s presidential primary. Working with municipal clerks (elected official responsible for administration of elections at the local level), the Dane County Clerk Scott McConnell has tirelessly promoted the option of voting by mail. Wisconsin allows early In-person voting, but right now all city, village, and town offices are closed to the public. When I talked with Scott last Thursday, he mentioned that thousands of ballots have already been returned. JoAnna and I mailed ours earlier this week. 

We agree that the elections should proceed. It provides a timely exercise in crisis management, implementing a system that should have been more accessible in the first place. Colorado, Oregon, and Washington already conduct their election by mail; there’s no in-person voting. The cynical side of me thinks that this current round of election handwringing and pearl-clutching is, if not orchestrated, being amplified by Bernie Sanders supporters. Perhaps they think a delay will blunt Biden’s momentum. The thing is, spring elections are generally low turnout, and Wisconsin’s presidential primary is now a meaningless exercise. 

A judge is likely to rule on the challenge later today. 

I read the other day where Warren County reported its first Covid case. The first two cases in the state were reported on March 2. The numbers are increasing exponentially. 

 Safe healthy and safe!

Read chapter 13 here

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