GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – It might’ve been a bit chilly, but voters still lined up around the block to cast their early in-person absentee ballots at Green Bay City Hall on Tuesday morning.
Green Bay residents of all backgrounds showed up to vote early. Each person had a varying reason for why they wanted to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
“Because my vote needs to be achieved,” said James Olsen. “I like showing up at the polls. There’s something inherently American about it that’s really quite remarkable. I always do it and enjoy it, frankly.”
“Because I will be gone on November 3rd, so I won’t be able to vote in person,” Joan Schneider explained. “Even though I can’t be here in person on the third, I’m here in person to submit my ballot. I wanted to make sure it got there.”
For some, voting is a ritual. But for others, it’s something brand new.
“I haven’t not voted since I was 21 years old. I’m 70. I’ve voted in every election in my life,” said Glenn Larson. “This is probably the number one time in my whole life, in all of the times that I’ve voted, ever since Nixon ran, this is the most important election for the future of our country.”
“This is my first time ever voting, so I wanted to make sure I got in this time,” said Mike Cornelius. “There was no reason for me to vote. There was nothing out there that would help me and my family, but now, I think it’s time for me to get out and vote…I do regret not voting, but this time I’m not going to let it go. That’s why I’m out here early, to make sure I get it done, because I know I’m going to be busy during Election Day…This is my free day, this is what I want to do. Absolutely, this is a crucial time for me to do it.”
Some individuals were voting in-person due to a mistrust in the postal service and mail-in process. They wanted to ensure that their ballots were going to make it to City Hall on time.
WTAQ News asked voters whether they were concerned about the mail-in system.
“Not really, no. I’ve got friends who voted through the mail and I have complete confidence in it,” Olsen said. “I don’t think there’s a difference, your vote is going to count. But I think that the experience of voting is something which is primarily American, and kind of wonderfully reflective of who we are.”
“I don’t really believe in mail-in voting. I believe in absentee voting. There’s a difference. I vote in person because I want to make sure my vote counts,” said Glenn Larson. “Dress warm, stand in line, go out and vote. Don’t not vote just because it’s cold. Somebody brought a chair because she can’t stand. She’s here to vote, and she’s willing to wait in this line – which is one of the shorter lines this year I’m sure.”
The woman who brought the chair declined an interview, but in conversation shared a similar reasoning with most others in line – getting out to vote is important. Especially this year.
“Just look at what’s going on in the world. This is the United States, and we’ve never been this divided in my lifetime,” Cornelius said. “You’re walking around and you see a different world here. That’s the reason I don’t mind waiting in an hour and a half line, because you look around and see what’s going on.”
“The importance is because I love my country and I fear for my country right now. For me, this vote is about freedom,” Schneider said.
“Forces of good and evil are coming together in this country, in this world. And that’s why these people are down here. They want to have a vote,” said Harold Scott. “I’m 80-years-old. I’ve never seen the country or the world in the condition that it’s in.”
The individuals we spoke with were waiting anywhere from 30 minutes to just over an hour to get inside. The temperature was also floating just above 32 degrees. But nobody seemed overly concerned with the return of winter weather.
“We’ve been having a wonderful conversation the whole time! We’ve kept warm by just talking,” Olsen said.
“I’ve got my car parked in two-hour parking, so I hope I don’t get a ticket. But I want to vote,” said Harold Scott.
However, the city sent out a release Tuesday afternoon stating:
“Given the overwhelming response to the first day of voting, those who want to vote today may wait two to three hours.”
There are ten more days to vote early in-person in Green Bay. All of those dates and times can be found in the link provided above.
Comments