FALL ELECTIONS WHOLE NEW BALLGAME
Tuesday, August 15th, 2006 -- 2:19 PM
Remember when voting was as simple as showing up, putting some marks on a piece of paper and dropping your ballot in a box? Those days ? for better or worse ? are now behind us thanks to the 2000 Presidential Election debacle.This Fall?s elections will bring changes to voting equipment, polling place hours and registration requirements.
The September 12th Primary will be the first that uniform polling hours will be required. Under prior law, election officials in towns, villages and small cities were required to keep the polls open only from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ? now, [i]all[/i] polling spots will have to be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Clark County Clerk Chris Jensen says the deadline is also approaching for those that need to register to vote prior to the September 12th primary.
"The last day you can register before the primary is August 23rd," Jensen says. "If you register after that day, you have to provide [url=http://elections.state.wi.us/faq_detail.asp?faqid=119&fid=27]proof of residence[/url]."
If you elect to register before the August 23rd deadline, you just need to bring a drivers license number ? if you have one ? or a Social Security number, if you don't have a drivers' license. If you registered for a previous election, you don?t need to reregister.
Also new this fall: the voting equipment itself. While simple paper ballots will be available, officials are encouraging people to try the new touch screen machines.
"It will enable handicap voters to vote independently and privately. Anyone can use them."
The Fall Elections will also be the first in which the statewide voter registration list will be operational for the entire state.
"This system will interface with vital statistics, so as people die we can inactivate them, it will also interface with the Department of Corrections so felons won't be allowed to vote," Jensen explains.
If you have any questions about the upcoming changes, you can contact your local county or municipal clerk.
On the Web:
[url=http://elections.state.wi.us/faq_detail.asp?faqid=119&fid=27]State Elections Board: HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE[/url]
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.