Absentee voting gains popularity

By Paul Sloth

Thursday, October 26, 2006 2:16 AM CDT

Racine - Can't get to the polls on Nov. 7? Vote absentee.

Voting outside of Election Day is gaining in popularity, but it's a mixed blessing, according to some local municipal clerks.

Electors no longer need to provide a reason when applying for an absentee ballot, making the process easier and more enticing.

Racine City Clerk Janice Johnson-Martin said absentee voting in Racine this year has already surpassed the previous gubernatorial election in 2002.

Four years ago, the Racine City Clerk's office mailed 994 absentee ballots and had 795 returned.

The City Clerk's office has seen a steady stream of in-person and mailed requests for absentee ballots this election cycle. So far, the clerk's office has mailed 1,010 absentee ballots. Roughly 200 voters have already cast early ballots in person at the clerk's office or other off-site voting places.

"I encourage people to absentee vote," Johnson-Martin said. "I'd rather people absentee vote than not vote at all."

Absentee voting has been steady in Union Grove, where Village Clerk Jan Winget expects to see more walk-in voters as Election Day draws closer. Winget said she started receiving absentee ballot requests before she received the ballots from the state Oct. 9.

Wisconsin is one of 29 states that allow no-excuse absentee voting and one of 16 states that allow no-excuse, in-person absentee voting.

Winget sees absentee voting as a bit of a mixed blessing.

"It is an absolute nightmare. It's an added expense for the village and there is more paperwork involved with absentee voting," Winget said. "It's part of the job, so we take it in stride."

With changes in state elections law, absentee voting seems to be increasing in popularity, Winget said. Union Grove residents cast 400 absentee ballots out of 2,400 total ballots in the 2004 presidential election.

"It's been picking up. It's a convenience, especially for people who are leaving for the winter," Winget said. "The appeal is you don't have to wait in line on Election Day."

For information about absentee voting in other communities, contact your municipal clerk: City of Racine - 636-9171 City of Burlington - 342-1161 Village of Mount Pleasant - 554-8750 Village of Waterford - 534-3980 Village of Union Grove - 878-1818 For contact information from more Racine County communities check online at: http://www.journaltimes.com

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