APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The August partisan primary is less than two weeks away.
It means Appleton city clerk Kami Lynch has a long to do list.
“We’re still sending out absentee ballots. Then getting all the supplies ready for the polling places, we’re working on getting workers.”
Potentially complicating that list is Governor Tony Evers statewide mask mandate.
The order expires at the end of September.
At Thursday’s news conference announcing the mandate, FOX 11 asked the Governor’s legal counsel, Ryan Nilsestuen, how it would be enforced at the polls in August.
“People have a constitutional right to vote and we encourage everybody to wear masks. It’s not up to clerks to enforce this order. Clerks jobs are to make sure every vote it counted.”
Then whose job is it to enforce the mandate?
Menasha police chief Tim Styka tells FOX 11 requiring masks is both a law enforcement and public health issue. It’s why he’ll have to work with local clerks to figure out what enforcement looks like come election time.
“The real goal behind this is trying to get people to comply with it.”
When it comes to people who don’t want to follow the mandate ?
“We’ve had about oh 24 hours to figure out how this works. But I think the city and county clerks are going to have to look at that issue closer. Perhaps there can be some other accommodations? Could there be polling that takes place outside where maybe a mask might not be needed?”
But for now, Lynch doesn’t have to add another item to her to do list.
“I’m just here to administer voting. Make sure everyone can do so in the manner they feel safest and making sure that those people who are working to administer our democratic process are safe as well.”
The state is pushing people to vote absentee.
The U.S. Postal Service recommends mailing your ballot know later than August 4th.
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