As Polls Open For April Election, Early Voting Bill Awaits Assembly’s Consideration

As early voting for the April 1 election began in Wisconsin on Monday, critics in Milwaukee spoke against a Republican bill to end weekend voting and limit weekday early voting to 45 hours a week.

State Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, said if the Assembly votes on the measure later this week, he hopes Democrats can pressure the GOP to add more early vote polling sites in large cities like Milwaukee.

Anything to make that terrible bill better – allowing more sites, allowing some weekends,” said Carpenter. “Forty-five hours is not a lot. I think it’s just abhorrent that getting off on a Saturday or Sunday to come down and vote to do your civic duty … it seems like you have to fight for that.”

Milwaukee officials say their city deserves at least a dozen early vote sites. Currently, people have come to one location downtown in order to vote early.

A spokesperson for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said that Vos plans to have a caucus discussion on Tuesday regarding the legislation, as well as an amendment.