Early voting begins today in Wisconsin

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Long lines are expected this morning – at least in some of Wisconsin’s larger cities – as early voting begins for the Nov. 6 elections.

About 22-percent of Wisconsinites voted early in the last presidential contest in 2008, using the absentee process. In Milwaukee, about nine-thousand people have applied for absentee ballots – about the same as in ’08. Kevin Kennedy of the state Government Accountability Board and Neil Albrecht of Milwaukee’s Election Commission also predict large numbers of observers to watch the absentee voting process. It could create some tight quarters in some places – and officials remind observers to give voters their space.

In-person voting continues through November second, the Friday before Election Day. Voters can also ask for absentee ballots by mail – and the clerks must receive those requests by the end of the day on Thursday, November first. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, and the clerks have to get them by the Friday after the elections. Clerks will also be busy registering new voters in the 15 days before Election Day. Voters can begin the process by going on-line to MyVoteWI.gov, which is run by the Government Accountability Board.

Tags: news, wisconsin, politics