WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A statewide voter database issue slowed day one of in-person, absentee voting for many municipalities including Wausau.
“Due to the large number of iPad voters in the City of Wausau and across the state, we slowed [down] the statewide voter database website,” said City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde. “So we were one of the municipalities that went to a paper process to help get voters in quickly.”
A release from the Wisconsin Elections Commission confirmed that high voter turnout bogged down their system. The Commission worked quickly to expand the server’s capacity, and the issue is not expected to linger into Wednesday. In the meantime, those voters who had their information hand-written on the envelope can rest assured that their vote will count just the same. “They have been labeled appropriately and they will be counted on Election Day.”
The release emphasized that the issue “was purely related to demands on the WisVote system due to high turnout,” and would not impact anyone’s ability to cast a ballot.
Bernarde added that anyone planning to take advantage of the early voting option should budget enough time, especially during peak mid-day hours. “We have staff and election officials who are eager to be able to help people to vote. But sometimes [it takes time] to get people registered or checked in.”
In-person, absentee voting continues weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM through Friday, November 1st. There will be extended hours on Tuesday, October 29th from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can also vote Saturday, November 2nd from 8 AM to noon.
Those with a completed absentee ballot can also drop it off at City Hall during those early voting hours. Ballots can also be mailed through the US Postal Service or returned to the dropbox outside City Hall outside business hours. On election day voters should return their absentee ballots to City Hall, not to their polling place.
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