GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Election Day is now less than three weeks away, and the City of Green Bay is locking down their approach to making sure every vote is counted. They also want to avoid seeing voters wait in lines up to four hours long before casting a ballot.
With the pandemic at hand, there has been a major push for voters to utilize absentee ballots across the country. That has created a notable increase in absentee requests in Green Bay.
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich talks about absentee ballot drop boxes outside of City Hall. (WTAQ/Casey Nelson)
“So far 43.5-percent of our registered voters have requested an absentee ballot in the city of Green Bay. This is a 124-percent increase over 2016 November election,” said Mayor Eric Genrich. “This is an absolutely secure process. We take this incredibly seriously, and just want people to be patient as these ballots come in and are tabulated.”
In 2016, Green Bay had 53,330 registered voters and saw 10,366 absentee requests. So far in 2020, the city has 55,604 registered voters and has already received 24,186 absentee requests.
Absentee ballot-related deadlines can be found here. But Green Bay Chief of Staff Celestine Jeffreys reminds voters that getting ballots in earlier is better.
“Just like at Christmas time – if you want your Aunt Betty to get her gift, you sent it to her two weeks ahead of time. It’s the same thing with your ballot,” Jeffreys said. “Think about mail it Monday, which is Monday October 19th. That is the day that if you already have your absentee ballot in-hand, and you’d like to put it in the U. S. mail, do it by October 19th…We have early in person voting which begins on October 20th and goes until October 31st anyone who wants to register in person that registration ends on October 30th.”
Starting this Thursday, residents can go to the clerk’s office to register in-person.
Approximately $1.5 million in recently received grant funding has allowed the city to install a set of ballot drop boxes, including an extra drive-up box in front of City Hall.
“We’re benefiting from that investment of grant dollars. That’s enabled us to make some pretty significant purchases in terms of election equipment. We’ve got a high speed tabulator that’s really going to help when we begin counting those ballots on Election Day. Without it, it would have taken much longer,” Genrich explained. “We are ready for your vote.”
“They are bolted to the ground, the ballots are retrieved daily, there is an entire chain of custody procedure collectors undertake in order to collect those ballots, and the boxes are monitored by video surveillance,” Jeffreys said. “The drop boxes close at 7:00 PM on Election Day. Right now, they’re open 24/7. So if you work the third shift or you work the second shift, before you go to work, drop by a drop box to drop your ballot in there.”
If you don’t drop a ballot off by 7:05 PM on Election Day, the only option other than going to the polls is to bring it in to City Hall.
But the city isn’t just focusing on absentee ballots. They are preparing sixteen polling locations for voters who still want to cast a ballot in-person on Election Day.
“Election Day is an all hands on deck operation here at city hall and we are absolutely ready in a number of ways for Green Bay voters to cast their ballot and make their voices heard,” Jeffreys said. “We are encouraging all of our voters here in Green Bay and really all across the United States to make a plan to vote.”
Chief of Staff Celestine Jeffreys speaks about Green Bay’s plans for handling the November 3rd election. (WTAQ/Casey Nelson)
Other reminders the city is issuing include the requirement of a Photo ID to vote in Wisconsin. A list of the seven acceptable forms can be found here. You can also learn how to register, whether your address is up-to-date, and how to change your name if needed online.
Wednesday, October 14th is the last day to register online via MyVote.wi.gov.
The city is also providing ‘voter navigators’. The navigators are employees of the clerk’s office that are paid to help voters figure out the voting process or to help them find the information they need before casting their vote. They can be contacted by emailing vote@greenbaywi.gov or calling (920) 448-3010.There is also a voter guide available on the city’s website.
Voters will also not be required to wear a mask on Election Day, unless they are inside City Hall, where building policy requires a mask at all times.
As for poll workers this time around, the city has enough to conduct business as needed – but they’re still looking to recruit more.
“We’ve increased that dramatically to $350 for the day for the typical poll worker. We’re at 388 recruited, and 380 is what we absolutely need on election day,” Genrich said.
“We have P.P.E. for poll workers. We have masks, hand sanitizer, gloves, and also face shields,” Jeffreys added. “It’s still a lot of work. I think a lot of voters were grateful for poll workers to be there [in August], and that’s not something I had experienced before.”
Jeffreys told WTAQ News their efforts to recruit have been spread via Facebook groups and other online means, as well as through word of mouth. She even sent a notice through the Green Bay Area Public School District, because people as young as 16 and 17-years-old are allowed to volunteer at the polls.
Even with the new high-speed tabulator and more people opting to vote absentee, November 3rd is still likely to be an interesting day for city employees – and the community as a whole.
“I’m anticipating a lively election day. Obviously, the more absentee ballots we receive, the fewer voters will show up on election day. In the state of Wisconsin, you may not vote absentee and then come on election day and vote again. That is against the law,” Jeffreys said. “Patience is going to be the sentiment of November. But we will be working diligently, we will be working efficiently, we will be working accurately on election day to get that vote count.”
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