April 4, 2020

Working for you!

Special Update

I have carefully reviewed the governor’s call of a special session of the legislature to alter the April 7, 2020 election. I heard from many people on this issue and I appreciate your input and the magnitude of the situation. I considered the following:

• Up until one week ago, the governor and the legislature supported the same position on continuing with the election.
  It is not feasible to make changes to an election just three days before it occurs.

• Fox Valley clerks have communicated definitively to my office that they do not have the resources to implement the governor’s proposed changes to the election.

• Clerks have spent significant time and resources to ensure a safe election. It would not be prudent to put that to waste.

• Nothing is a more essential activity in a democracy than carrying out reliable elections.

• This is both a general and a primary election, unlike in other states where they have postponed only their presidential primary.

• Delaying this election would leave critical county and municipal positions vacant at a time when local leadership is more important than ever. The mayor of Appleton is just one such position.

• The number of requested absentee ballots has nearly exceeded the total number of citizens who voted last April.

• The time allowed to request a ballot was increased and the time to return a ballot increased.

• A mail-in only election could disenfranchise citizens who intend to utilize Wisconsin’s same day voter registration.

• States with mail-in only elections transitioned to that system over the course of years, not just three days.

• As a member of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, I cannot in good conscience advance a bill that would so fundamentally change an election without a single public hearing.

• All Wisconsin citizens will have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday, and thanks to our dedicated clerks in the Fox Valley, I’m confident our community members will be able to exercise this duty safer than they would in making an essential trip to a grocery store or pharmacy.

In summary, the governor’s proposal would introduce chaos and lack of confidence into our elections and would be impossible to implement both logistically and legally.

Examples of Emails from Local Clerks

Voting Information

If you have questions about voting visit https://myvote.wi.gov or contact your local clerk. Here are the clerks in our district:

City of Appleton (920) 832-6443 electionclerk@appleton.org

Town of Dale (920) 779-4609 towndalewi@gmail.com

Town of Grand Chute (920) 832-5644

Town of Greenville (920) 757-5151 x1100 whegelson@townofgreenville.com

Town of Poygan (920) 685-2686

Town of Vinland (920) 235-6953 vinlandclerk@ntd.net

Town of Winneconne (920) 582-3260 tn.winn@northnet.net

Village of Winneconne (920) 582-4381 jstelzner@winneconnewi.gov

Town of Winchester (920) 427-8330 clerk@townofwinchesterwi.com

Town of Wolf River (920) 446-3837 townofwolfriver@centurytel.net

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