Green Bay Explains Election Security Procedures

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — What is the city of Green Bay doing to secure next week’s election?

City clerk Celestine Jeffreys held a news conference Wednesday morning to discuss security procedures.

From campaign visits to early voting, it’s been a busy election season in Northeast Wisconsin.

The City of Green Bay has been working for months to ensure voters, poll workers, and ballots are all safe and secure on November 5.

“I think this is a phenomenon that has ramped up over the last several election cycles. Not only presidential elections, but midterm elections and it seems like we’re just seeing increasing concerns about safety during elections,” said Police Chief Chris Davis.

The City of Green Bay is implementing a new set of security strategies citywide for Election Day.

Everything from closing Jefferson Street to motor vehicle traffic in front of City Hall, where Central Count will be going on, to training polls workers in de-escalation techniques, in case someone wants to try and disrupt voting.

Like in April, for the primary, the city will also have and Election Day Incident Command to quickly and effectively address emergencies.

According to Jeffreys, “This is what we do. This is what is important to keep people safe, to give people confidence that we’re keeping them safe and we’re keeping our election materials safe. So, there’s many election materials, not just ballots, not just sticks so that we’re keeping all those things safe so that we can report accurate, complete results.”

The city released these notes in a news release:

• Key City and County staff conducted a table-top exercise with Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. They created successful security strategies for Election Day. Clerk’s staff trained with GBMFD (Green Bay Metro Fire Department) to identify suspicious mail and handle potentially hazardous substances.
• They’ve created an Emergency Plan for Election Day
• On Election Day, the City will host an Election Day Incident Command to quickly and effectively address emergencies
• The city trained poll workers on situational awareness with a representative from CISA
• Jefferson Street is closed to secure the building and central count from the inbound parking lot driveway, south to the intersection of Jefferson and Walnut

City Hall hours and parking lot — ensuring visitors have appropriate access to the building

• Voters from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
  • Voters returning ballots can park in City Hall lot at the hooded meters
    • Drop box closes at 7 a.m. on Election Day
• All other city business from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Central count workers and observers from 7 a.m. to conclusion
  • Everyone else: City Hall closes at 4:30 p.m.
  • Other visitors to City Hall should park on Cherry, Adams or in one of the ramps
• Clerk’s office will be open only for election business on Monday and Tuesday. We will be closed for in-person business on Wednesday

Important voter information

• In Wisconsin, voters must return their ballots to City Hall by 8 p.m. on Election Day
• Voters should visit Myvote.wi.gov to find their polling location and what’s on their ballot

Voter safety

• If a voter has safety concerns about Election Day or encounters intimidation, please contact the Wisconsin Elections Commission atelections@wi.gov or (608) 261-2028
• Electioneering: It is illegal to influence another’s vote, either with words or materials

Reporting Results

• The city will issue a press release when they have delivered the sticks (USB media that contain voting information from each DS200 and the two DS450s) to the County