At the time of this writing, the April 7th statewide election is still on as planned, and it's SO important that you participate! At least 100,000 people have already voted early, and I strongly urge you to consider using one of the several options available that enable you to vote early.
The easiest way to get an absentee ballot (which you may do in Wisconsin for any reason, or for no reason at all) is to request one at myvote.wi.gov. If you have never voted absentee before, you will need to upload a photo of your valid photo ID to use this option, but that's the hardest part.
Another way to get an absentee ballot is to simply e-mail (or fax) your local municipal clerk and request a ballot. Use this online tool to find your clerk's e-mail address.
Another way to get an absentee ballot is to print and fill out this request form and mail it in along with a photocopy of your photo ID. If you want to do it this way, don't wait long, because mailing paperwork back and forth will take a little more time than the other options.
Yet another way to vote early, which is the one I have come to like using myself, is to do so in person. Every municipal clerk offers one or more ways to vote early, in person, prior to April 7th. With this option, you just show up with your photo ID during a time when early voting is occurring; the clerk will provide you a ballot when you get there and, when you're done, they'll seal it in an envelope, and your ballot will be opened and counted on April 7th with everybody else's ballots.
Finally, don't forget that voting is a privilege and responsibility. A small number of clerks this week started suggesting that it would be OK for voters to ignore the photo ID requirement by falsely claiming to be "indefinitely confined" due to age, illness or disability. Don't do that. It's lying, and intentionally lying on election documents (or inciting others to lie) is a felony. If you are actually indefinitely confined, by all means use that option if you like, but if you are not, then follow the law.
Read on for further updates; there is good news coming from DC today!
Big News
- Just today, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed emergency coronavirus legislation. The Senate has already passed it, and it is possible that President Trump will have signed into law by the time you read this. Click here to read the best summary I've seen that describes what's in it. (Scroll down to the bottom half of the page and check out the several tabs on subjects such as unemployment, direct payments to individuals, etc.) Highlights include a temporary $600 extra per week for everyone who is receiving unemployment insurance benefits; grants and forgivable loans available to small businesses who were harmed; direct cash payments to most individuals and families; protections against foreclosures and evictions; and much more. Details are still thin, and I know there are very many individuals and businesses for whom there's not a minute to lose, so stay tuned as things firm up!
- Road construction on the long-anticipated Highway 23 expansion project will resume on April 6th. The existing lanes are expected to remain open during this summer's work. Final project completion is expected in mid-2021.
- Keep watching out for scams during the health emergency. Things are bad right now. The latest version I've heard about is that the bad guy calls on the phone, or sends an official-looking e-mail, and falsely claims something like, "President Trump has required that all seniors get tested for Covid-19, so I just need a few personal details..." Never, ever, ever give personal information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. to someone with whom you did not initiate the contact.
Office of Representative Terry Katsma
State Capitol, Room 306 East
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
(608) 266-0656
Rep.Katsma@legis.wisconsin.gov| |
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