News
Wisconsin votes, and the partisan divide on voting and health becomes a chasm
Just a dozen days ago, making it safer and easier to vote during the coronavirus outbreak was a totally bipartisan cause. But once that sentiment faced its first practical test, in Wisconsin, polarized partisanship snapped back with extraordinary intensity — posing yet another threat to a fair 2020 election and Americans' confidence in the democratic process.
With long lines of socially distanced voters at a shrunken roster of short-staffed polling places on Wednesday, from sprawling Milwaukee to tiny Moquah, the parties delivered opposite messages to those confused and angry about why the primary was even happening and anxious about the medical risks of doing their civic duty.
Republicans — having kept the primary on track thanks to last-minute victories in a state Legislature, state Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court all with friendly conservative majorities — pressed their supporters to go to the polls in force.
Democrats — rebuffed in their efforts to postpone the in-person voting and extend the time for returning absentee ballots — told their supporters to stay safely at home and canceled all their get-out-the-vote plans, which were aimed at mobilizing turnout in urban areas.
Confused by what's happening in Wisconsin? We have answers.
Within just a few days, Wisconsin has become the center of the coronavirus-election debate universe with a blur of back and forth by state officials and the courts.
The governor said Monday afternoon that in-person primary voting was off. House later, the state Supreme Court said it was on, and in fact polls opened Tuesday morning.
Last Thursday a federal judge said that, with or without polling stations to visit, voters could complete absentee ballots and they'd be counted so long as they arrived at election offices by April 13. Late Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court said, no, absentee ballots would be valid only if postmarked by primary day.
For those who care about good governance and fair democratic play — but who may have gotten lost — click for answers to some questions you may have...
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One more day to vote in round one of our Democracy Madness voting "region." Cast your votes now!