By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Vote Absentee! April 7 spring election to go forward as planned
Stay in and VOTE!

WISCONSIN - The election planned for Tuesday, April 7 will go forward as planned, according to Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator (WEC). The WEC held a meeting on Wednesday, March 18 to discuss whether or not to recommend to the Governor and legislature that the election should proceed as planned in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the March 18 meeting of the six-member Wisconsin Elections Commission, the commission unanimously moved to adopt a six-part directive. Specific to their directive, they have requested the following:

1. Assistance securing a supply of sanitation resources for local election officials

2. Assistance with recruiting poll workers

3. Access to public health officials to create accurate guidance for local election officials.

WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe wrote a letter to Governor Evers on Friday, March 20:

“On April 7 there will be nearly 2,000 polling places requiring more than 20,000 poll workers and the potential of up to 2,000,000 voters or their absentee ballots. Elections are large public gatherings. In most other areas of our now daily lives, public gatherings have been prohibited. As required by law, in-person absentee voting and in-person registration extend these election gatherings to sites around the state for the next 18 days. Many of our trusted election custodians are over the age of 60. Others have health concerns that may place them at risk. Further, almost every municipality around the state has conveyed they do not have access to the sanitation supplies directed by public health officials,” Wolfe wrote.

“As of today, local election officials do not have access to the people or supplies needed. This leaves voters, clerks, and poll workers to make difficult choices. Voters should not have to choose between voting or staying healthy. Poll workers should not have to choose between serving their community or staying healthy. Our local election officials should not have to choose betweenfacilitating democracy or staying healthy,” Wolfe continued.

Registration extended

On Friday, March 27, a federal judge granted a request by Democrats to extend online voter registration in Wisconsin until March 30 in light of the public health crisis brought on by the new coronavirus.

Voters will still be able to go to the polls on April 7, but are being strongly encouraged to go to www.myvote.wi.gov to either register to vote or to request an absentee ballot that will be mailed to your home.

Election deadlines

• Monday, March 30, 11:59 p.m.:deadline to register to vote online. - Voters who are able to match their name, date of birth, Wisconsin Driver License or State ID number, and address with the Wisconsin DMV, can register to vote online.

• Thursday, April 2, 5 p.m.:absentee voting - all voters in Wisconsin can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them for any reason. Voters must be registered before they can request an absentee ballot.   Voters may request their absentee ballot in writing.  You can also request an absentee ballot on myvote.wi.gov. You must provide a photo ID with your absentee ballot request.

• Thursday, April 2, 5 p.m.:deadline to request an absentee ballot - regular and permanent overseas voters

• Friday, April 3, 2020, 5 p.m.:deadline to register in-personin your municipal clerk’s office.

• Friday, April 3, 5 p.m.:deadline to request an absentee ballot - indefinitely confined.

• Possibly though April 5:deadline for in-person absentee- voters can possibly request and vote an absentee ballot in-person in their municipal clerk’s office through April 5, 2020.  Office hours vary by municipality. Some municipal offices may not offer additional in-person absentee hours. Please contact your municipal clerk for absentee voting hours. 

• Tuesday, April 7, 5 p.m.:deadline for hospitalized voters- voters who are in a hospital may request a ballot be brought to them by an appointed agent if they are hospitalized in the seven days preceding the election.  Hospitalized electors may request an absentee ballot between March 31, and April 7, at 5 p.m.

• Tuesday, April 7, 5 p.m.:deadline to request an absentee ballot – military.

• Tuesday, April 7, 8 p.m.: deadline to return absentee ballot.If mailing your absentee ballot, the clerk must receive the mailed ballot by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7. Otherwise, the absentee ballot can be handed in-person to your clerk or a poll worker at your polling place no later than Tuesday, April 7, 8 p.m.

On the ballot

Voters can expect to vote in the following elections on Tuesday, April 7:

• Presidential Preference Primary– voters will choose to vote either in the Republican or Democratic primary. This will determine which of two ballots you complete.

• Wisconsin Supreme Court– voters will choose between Daniel Kelly and Jill Karofsky.

• Marsy’s Law Referendum– this will be a yes/no question.

• County Board Supervisor– voters will be able to vote for the candidate of their choice in their district in their county.

• School Board Members– voters will be able to vote for the candidates of their choice in the school district in which they reside.

• City Aldermen and Mayors- voters who live and vote in a city will be able to cast a vote for the candidate of their choice to represent them on their city council or as mayor of their city.

• Village Trustees– voters who live and vote in a village will be able to cast a vote for the candidate of their choice to represent them on their village board.

• Town Supervisors- voters who live and vote in a township will be able to cast a vote for the candidate of their choice to represent them on their town board.

Staffing elections

Many municipal clerks are alsoseeking alternative poll workersto staff polling places so more vulnerable members of the community, such as the elderly or the immune-compromised, can stay home. To find out if your county is seeking poll worker volunteers, contact your city, county, village or town clerk.

Crawford County

County clerk 

Janet Geisler

608-326-0200

jgeisler@crawford countywi.org

Township clerks

• Bridgeport:Linda Smrcina, 608-326-2385 

• Clayton:Jennifer Byl, 608-624-5136 

• Eastman:Kari Kronberg, 608-306-0212 

• Freeman:Peggy Thompson, 608-792-4570 

• Haney:Lucy Schwem, 608-872-2279 

• Marietta:Clifford Monroe, 701-740-4767 

• Prairie du Chien:Tarra Brewer, 608-306-2818 

• Scott:Donna Bell, 608-872-2414 

• Seneca:Julie Payne, 608-874-4944 

• Utica:Tanya Peterson, 608-735-4883

• Wauzeka:Carol Mullikin, 608-875-6013 

Village clerks

• Bell Center:Karen Bell, 608-735-4566 

• DeSoto:Carrie Brudos, 608-648-2700 

• Eastman:Teri Lavender, 608-874-4361 

• Ferryville:Bridget Schill, 608-734-3471 

• Gays Mills:Dawn McCann, 608-735-4341 

• Lynxville:Mark Buetow, 414-881-4378 

• Mt. Sterling:Kim Sprosty, 608-874-4045 

• Soldiers Grove:Tamera Kepler, 608-624-3264 

• Steuben:Jolinda Bunders, 608-476-2358 

• Wauzeka:Phyllis Groom, 608-875-5281 

City clerk

• Prairie du Chien:Tina Fuller, 608-326-6406

Vernon County

County Clerk

Ron Hoff

608-637-5380

rhoff@vernoncounty.org

Township clerks

• Bergen:Tina Dahl, 608-498-6227

• Christiana:Jackie Olson, 608-634-4216

• Clinton:Sandy Schweiger, 608-625-2822, e-mail: townclerkclinton@gmail.com

• Coon:Sara Rudie, 608-452-3966, e-mail: towncoonclerk@gmail.com

• Forest:Heidi Obert S2271 Valley Avenue, La Farge 54639 608-489-3957, e-mail: foresttownship@gmail.com

• Franklin:Tracy Thelen, 608-675-3773, e-mail: franklinclerk@mwt.net

• Genoa:Jerome Pedretti, 608-689-2808, e-mail: genoatown@gmail.com

• Greenwood: Mary Stanek, 608-553-0964, e-mail: clerk@tn.greenwood.wi.gov

• Hamburg:Jackie Stalsberg, 608-483-2313, e-mail: hamburg@mwt.net

• Harmony:Brenda Hass, 608-553-0267, e-mail: Bkhass2447@gmail.com

• Hillsboro:Jennifer Burchell, 608-489-3464, e-mail: HillsboroTwp@gmail.com

• Jefferson:Annette Sheldon, 608-637-2587

• Kickapoo:Alan Buss, 608-629-5848, e-mail: clerk@tn.kickapoo.wi.gov

• Liberty:Lori Polhamus, 608-627-1126, e-mail: polhamus@mwt.net

 • Stark:Holly Franks, 608-625-2895, e–mail: clerk@tn.stark.wi.gov

• Sterling:Kay Yanske, 608-675-3360, e-mail: yanske@mwt.net

• Union:Fay Urban, 608-528-4437, e-mail: uniontownclerk@gmail.com

• Viroqua:Donna Leum, 608-634-3778

• Webster:Ole Yttri, 608-606-0129, e-mail: soyttri@mwt.net

• Wheatland:Joann Schultz, 608-648-3583, e-mail: wheatlandtownclerk@gmail.com

• Whitestown:Mona Spohn, 608-625-4603

Village clerks

• Chaseburg:Linda DeGarmo, 608-483-2660, e-mail: chclerk@mwt.net

• Coon Valley:Renita Williamson, 608-452-3168, e-mail: cvclerk@mwt.net

• DeSoto:Carrie Brudos, 608-648-2700, e-mail: vdesoto@mwt.net

• Genoa:Jerome Pedretti, 608-689-2808

• LaFarge:Kimberly Walker, 608-625-4422, e-mail: vlglaf@mwt.net

• Ontario:Teresa Taylor, 608-337-4381, e-mail: villageofontario@centurytel.net

• Readstown:Susan Mueller, 608-629-5627, e-mail: clerk@vi.readstown.wi.gov

• Stoddard:Kent Hatlestad, 608-457-2136, e-mail: vilstodd@mwt.net

• Viola:Beth Campbell, 608-627-1831, e-mail: clerk@vi.viola.wi.gov

City clerks

• Hillsboro:Sheila Schraufnagel, 608-489-2521, e-mail: clerk@hillsborowi.com

• Viroqua:Lori Polhamus 608-637-7154, ext. 11, e-mail: lpolhamus@viroqua-wisconsin.com

• Westby:Roxy Wedwick, 608-634-3214, e-mail: rwedwick@cityofwestby.org

Richland County

County Clerk

Victor V. Vlasak

608-647-2197

e-mail: victor.vlasak@co.richland.wi.us

Town clerks

Akan:Jessica Laeseke, 608-536-3432, e-mail: akan@mwt.net

Bloom:Shelly Schweiger, 608-627-1110, e-mail: schweigr@mwt.net

Buena Vista:Van L. Nelson, 608-583-2406, e-mail: vannelson2@hotmail.com

Dayton:Francine C. Ewing, 608-647-3232, e-mail: daytonclerkewing@gmail.com

Eagle:Bobbi Ann Goplin, 608-739-3889, e-mail: jimbobjerseys@gmail.com

Forest:Lynette Owens, 608-627-1270, e-mail: forest@mwt.net

Henrietta:Tammy Burns, 608-549-2138, e-mail: henriettaclerk@gmail.com

Ithaca:Sheila Kitsembel, 608-585-2610, e-mail: sheila.kitsembel87@gmail.com

Marshall:Don Hubbs, 608-604-4611, email: townofmarshallwi@gmail.com

Orion:Tammy Cannoy-Bender, 608-647-8405, e-mail: tlcbender@frontier.com

Richland:Linda A. Wymer, 608-604-5586, e-mail: richlandtownship.wi@gmail.com

Richwood:Carol Welsh, 608-872-2324, e-mail: tcwelsh@wildblue.net

Rockbridge:Sharon Miller, 608-647-4673, e-mail: rockbridgeclerk.mill@gmail.com

Sylvan:Judy Murphy, 608-538-3885, e-mail: sylvanclerk@mwt.net

Westford:Lisa Klang, 608-983-2284, e-mail: westfordclerk@mwt.net

Willow:Ann Rynes, 608-604-0350, e-mail: annies@mwt.net

Village clerks

Boaz:Susie Hauri, (o) 608-536-3466, (h) 608-647-7149, e-mail: villofboaz@mwt.net

Cazenovia:Robin Landsinger, 608-963-3702, e-mail: arland@mwt.net

Lone Rock:Karen Kampen, (o) 608-583-0088, e-mail: Karen.Kampen@VillageofLoneRock.com

Viola:Beth Campbell, 608-627-1831, ext. 12, e-mail: Clerk@vi.viola.wi.gov

Yuba:Katie McCollam, 608- 332-2593, e-mail: k.mccollam@live.com

City clerk

Richland Center:Melinda Jones, 608-647-3466, e-mail: Melinda.jones@richlandcenter.com

Grant County

County Clerk

Linda Gebhard

608-723-2675

countyclerk@co.grant.wi.gov

Town clerks

• Beetown:Sharon Bontregor, 608-723-9015, e-mail: sdbon@tds.net

• Bloomington:Jane Patterson, 608-994-2807, e-mail: jpatters@tds.net

• Boscobel:Courtney Rounds, 608-375-6020, e-mail: townofboscobel@gmail.com      

• Cassville:Elizabeth Wiest, 608-778-2001, e-mail: elwiest2@gmailcom

• Castle Rock:Lavern Hrubes, 608-943-8248, e-mail: clerk.tocr@centurytel.net

• Clifton:Shelly Osterndorff, 608-574-0869, e-mail: ostern@yousq.net

• Ellenboro:Karla Schwantes, 608-723-7796, e-mail: plattepi@chorus.net

• Fennimore:Brian Heisz, 608-778-8482   

• Glen Haven:Lois Nemitz, 608-794-2114, e-mail: nemitz6@pcii.net

• Harrison:Barb Brogley, 608-642-4843, e-mail: tbrogley@centurytel.net

• Hazel Green:Paul Hendricks, 608-744-2590, e-mail: pcgofish@gmail.com

• Hickory Grove:Allen Wester, 608-822-3432, e-mail: hgtown@tds.net

• Jamestown:Michael Boge, 563-599-3494, e-mail: jamestownclerk@gmail.com

• Liberty:Laura Maier, 608-732-8274, e-mail: maier_21@yahoo.com

• Lima:Jason Bevan, 608-732-7881, e-mail: LimaTownship53818@gmail.com           

• Little Grant:Elaine Mumm, 608-994-2272, e-mail: Littlgrant032@gmail.com

• Marion:Judi Boughton, 608-485-3119, e-mail: jboughton@centurytel.net    

• Millville:Dawn Wachter, 608-988-6972, e-mail: wachter@chorus.net          

• Mt. Hope:Linda Knapp, 608-988-4569, e-mail: mthopetown@gmail.com

• Mt. Ida:Dan Mulrooney, 608-988-6845, e-mail: Mulrooney4@gmail.com,

• Muscoda:Dan Bomkamp, 608-739-3864, e-mail: db6615@gmail.com

• North Lancaster:Linda Schwab, 608-723-4914     

• Paris:Jill Langmeier, 608-568-3181, e-mail: seanandjill@tds.net

• Patch Grove:Wade Winkers, 608-485-0161, e-mail: townofpatchgrove@gmail.com

• Platteville:James Lory, 608-348-9826, e-mail: plattown@centurytel.net

• Potosi:Peggy Udelhofen, 608-330-1512, e-mail: pudel@gmail.com

• Smelser:Kim Kieler, 608-744-8732, e-mail: tkkieler@lagrant.net

• South Lancaster:Rita Zenz, 608-723-7302, e-mail: bzenz@chorus.net

• Waterloo:Darlene Schauff, 608-725-5624, e-mail: sfarms@chorus.net

• Watterstown:Darlene Larson, 608-375-5187, e-mail: darlis5187@gmail.com

• Wingville:Marlys Helmich, 608-943-8474         

• Woodman:Deborah Knowles, 608-533-2913, e-mail: dak21@hotmail.com

• Wyalusing:Carol Kalinowski, 608-996-2787, e-mail: fivepolocks@tds.net

Village clerks

• Bagley;Amber Martin, 608-996-2195, e-mail: bagleyfd@tds.net    

• Bloomington:Mary Culligan, 608-994-3851, e-mail:BloomingtonVillage@tds.net    

• Blue River:Valerie Bailey, 608-537-2758, e-mail: VilBlRiv@mwt.net        

• Cassville:Jen Schmitz, 608-725-5180, e-mail: cassvlg@tds.net

• Dickeyville:Donna Timmerman, 608-568-3333, e-mail: villageoffice@tds.net           

• Hazel Green:Sally Bauer, 608-854-2953, e-mail: clerk@villageofhazelgreen.org         

• Livingston:Christina Christianson, 608-943-6800, e-mail: vilofliv@yousq.net         

• Montfort:Shelly Kazda, 608-943-6917, e-mail: clerk@montfortvillage.co     

• Mt. Hope:Robert Keeney, 608-988-6969            , e-mail: keeney97@tds.net

• Muscoda: Cinda Johnson, 608-739-3182, e-mail: cljohnson@wppienergy.or  

• Patch Grove:Kelly Conley, 608-533-3441, e-mail: patchgroveclerk@gmail.com        

• Potosi:Jessie Gavinski, 608-763-2261, e-mail: potosiclerk@tds.net            

• Tennyson:Lynn Yager, 608-763-2912, e-mail: villageoftennyson@hotmail.com

City clerks

• Boscobel:Vicky Grimesy, 608-375-5001, e-mail: vgrimesey@wppienergy.org

• Cuba City:Jill Hill, 608-744-2152, e-mail: jhill@wppienergy.org

• Fennimore:Debi Heisner, 608-822-6110, e-mail: cityclerk@fennimore.com

• Lancaster:David Kurihara, 608-723-7445, e-mail: davidk@lancasterwisconsin.com     

• Platteville:Candace Klaas           Clerk, 608-348-9741, e-mail: cityclerk@platteville.org