Early voting has begun on the University of Wisconsin campus, and voter turnout has so far exceeded expectations, according to a statement from the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC).
Local election officials reported to the WEC Thursday morning that they were experiencing issues with the system used to create envelope labels for absentee certificates, according to the statement.
In order to identify the underlying cause and eventually reduce label printing time, WEC employees are collaborating with state partners to carry out additional investigations, according to the statement.
“The delays have only affected label printing times,” The WEC said in the statement. “Every other function of the system that clerks use to print is working optimally. At this time, there is no reason to believe this is affecting other areas of election administration or state government.”
Although printing a label is not required for in-person absentee voting, diligent local election authorities find it more efficient, the WEC said in the statement.
Election clerks received a communication from the WEC late Wednesday suggesting they hand write the absentee information on the outside of the absentee certificate envelope until the printing delays are fixed. Before 2020, this had been the standard procedure, according to the WEC statement.
WEC Administrator and Wisconsin’s chief election official Meagan Wolfe commented on this year’s turnout for early voting.
“We are thrilled to see so many voters taking advantage of the opportunities to vote early,” Wolfe said. “Of course, it’s possible that the pace may slow in the days ahead, but the first three days of in-person absentee voting were exceedingly high.”
Label printing is a newer and more efficient technique in the administration of in-person absentee voting, but it is not required in order to certify ballots, according to the WEC statement.
Despite the issue, municipal clerks continue to see high numbers of in-person absentee voting, and the WEC has encouraged citizens to not be discouraged from casting their ballot early.
“No voters should be turned away due to label printing delays,” The WEC said in the statement. “The WEC is thankful to local election officials for their patience and professionalism while agency staff continue to work to improve label printing speed.”
In line to vote at Memorial Union Thursday, UW student Hailey Coburn discussed the experience of voting in her hometown, explaining that it was far more confusing than the experience she had on campus.
“When I voted locally, I went to one polling place and they told me no, that I had to go somewhere else,” Coburn said. “The University has been telling me exactly where to go and putting information out everywhere.”
Additionally, professors at UW have been encouraging students to make their voices heard, Coburn said.
One of Coburn’s professors made an announcement in her lecture, making sure students are aware that they can vote early. The professor told students where to register and where to vote, Coburn said.
To vote this year, Coburn had to change the address on her registration, but found the process smooth and easy. She said when she arrived at Memorial Union to vote, people immediately came to her assistance and walked her through the registration process.
“I walked up and heard someone say, ‘hey, are you registered?,’ I said no, and that I needed to change my address but I don’t know how to do it, and they told me that I could do it here.” Coburn said.
Same day registration is available at all University early voting locations, and there are people on site that are willing and ready to assist students, according to BadgersVote.
Student organizations have also been encouraging students to take part in the election, according to Coburn. In the weeks leading up to the start of early voting, student-run booths and tables around campus have been doing community outreach and asking students about their voting plans and registration statuses, Coburn said.
“If you just walk past them they’ll say ‘go vote!’ or come and talk to you about voting,” Coburn said. “I’ve definitely stopped at a couple tables that have told me if I promise to vote, I’ll get a free soda, or a free cupcake. They try to make people commit to voting, which I really like.”
Shelby Fosco, a poll worker at Memorial Union, reflected on voter turnout at early voting locations on campus.
“The first two days of in person absentee voting we’ve had a pretty high turnout,” Fosco said. “Consistently the lines are full, and students are really turning up and turning out. It’s really awesome to see.”
