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Absentee ballots spike in Madison
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by Courtney Johnson
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Madison residents have been filing a large number of absentee ballot requests, according to City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl.
Officials at the City Clerk's office and the University of Wisconsin have been pushing students to vote absentee this year, as the University of Wisconsin's spring break conflicts with the April 3 election.
The election also conflicts with the spring break of the Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison Area Technical College and Edgewood College.
So far, the City Clerk has received 5,431 requests for absentee ballots — up from the 2,910 requests they received during the spring election four years ago.
"We've been very busy at the counter with absentee voting," Witzel-Behl said. "We've been processing hundreds of absentee requests each day."
Witzel-Behl said the office is halfway to the number of absentee ballots they had for the November 2006 election, which included a gubernatorial race.
In order to accommodate those wishing to vote absentee, the City Clerk's office has extended hours starting this Saturday.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who helped organize absentee voting efforts including shuttle buses from the student unions to the clerk's office and tables with absentee voting information around campus, said he is excited students are voting in such high numbers.
"It's really an awesome thing, and, obviously, it's personally rewarding for me since I've tried to work to make absentee voting easier for students," Verveer said. "I've been told by the City Clerk's office staff that there's a tremendous number of absentee ballot requests from student wards."
Verveer attributes the increased voting numbers to the efforts of the university, city and area organization, as well as the District 8 aldermanic race.
"Between the Vote Naked campaign and then Eli (Judge) and Lauren's (Woods) particular campaigns and other groups like WISPIRG, who are nonpartisan, as well as efforts by the university — all of this has led to unprecedented levels of absentee ballot requests," Verveer said.
However, Verveer also acknowledged the numbers are also likely higher due to the fact this is the first time UW spring break has conflicted with Election Day.
Absentee ballot requests can be filled out at the City Clerk's office through April 2. The ballot will be mailed to the voter's home.
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