By Ben Rodgers
Editor
This cannot be any more straightforward. If you plan to vote absentee in Brown County this August and November, request your absentee ballots now.
As Aug. 11 gets closer, questions still remain about how many polling locations in the City of Green Bay will be fully staffed.
The school district and city haven’t reached an agreement yet over using high school gyms as polling places, because school board members have concerns over long lines and groups of people in school facilities during a pandemic.
If you have any concerns about waiting in long lines due to a low number of polling places, request your absentee ballot now and skip the lines.
It’s a simple process that takes just minutes.
Go to myvote.wi.gov and click on “Vote Absentee.”
Follow the steps and a ballot will be mailed to your residence, which you can complete and put back into the mailbox.
It’s fast, it’s easy and doing it now gives municipal workers more time to get you a ballot.
In April, Green Bay Clerk Kris Teske reported many people did not receive their absentee ballots, which caused long lines at East and West high schools.
Some people reported waiting hours in the rain to cast a ballot.
A last-minute rush, including one day with more than 200 phone calls, left city staff overwhelmed as other departments had to help with requests.
Still, not all people who requested an absentee ballot received one.
If you request an absentee ballot now, you will help city staff in their efforts to manage what is sure to be a high amount of requests.
April elections outside of the City of Green Bay were reported to have been much smoother.
However, if concerns related to COVID-19 are an issue for you in any of the surrounding villages, request your absentee ballot now.
The August primary will determine candidates for the state Legislature on the ballot in November.
There are three such primaries in the Green Bay area this August.
Come November, people will have a vote for who they want to be president.
During the last presidential election, Wisconsin became a vital swing state.
The nation is at a crossroads in regards to pandemic response and racism.
If you want to be assured a voice in these important elections, and have concerns about long lines and few polling places, due to the lack of available poll workers because of COVID-19, request your absentee ballot now.
You can request one for both August and November and just need a witness signature on the ballot when you vote. A spouse works nicely.
Excuses are allowable following the debacle in April, but by requesting your absentee ballot now, there’s no excuse to make sure you can vote from the comfort of home.