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Madison To Begin In-Person Absentee Voting Next Month

Move Follows Federal Court Decision That Struck Down Restrictions On Early Voting

By
Shawn Johnson / WPR

The City of Madison will begin extended in-person absentee voting hours next month, following a federal court ruling in a sweeping election law challenge.

Wisconsin Republicans took repeated steps to limit in-person absentee voting since they took power in 2011, including restricting how soon it could start and banning it on weekends. With a federal judge having struck down many of those changes, the Madison City Clerk’s office announced that starting Sept. 26, it would offer in-person absentee voting from 8:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. weekdays and from 9:00 a.m. until noon on Saturdays.

Gov. Scott Walker shrugged off the news Thursday, telling reporters the important thing is that Wisconsin’s voter ID law was upheld.

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“In terms of some of the other provisions out there, those were things the Legislature debated,” Walker said. “But our primary focus is on making sure that a strong form of voter ID is in place at the same time we make it easier to get access.”

The liberal group One Wisconsin Institute, celebrated the change.

“Here’s a big result from our lawsuit: Gov. Walker doesn’t get to decide who votes,” said One Wisconsin Institute director Scot Ross.

Milwaukee’s Election Commissioner has also announced plans to expand early, in-person absentee voting following the federal court ruling.