In a Lawsuit Filed Wednesday against the Wisconsin State Elections Commission in Federal Court in Madison, the Democrats asked for Changes to some Voting Laws because they say it is too risky for People to Vote In-Person. The State in the last week has seen a Surge in Requests to Vote Absentee. In addition to having the Presidential Primary on it, the April 7th Ballot includes Races for State Supreme Court, Milwaukee Mayor, Milwaukee County Executive, and other Offices.
A Federal Judge Reinstated Wisconsin’s Online Voter Registration System late Friday to help People find ways to Participate in the April 7th Presidential Election amid the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Wisconsin stopped Allowing People to use the State’s Online Voter Registration System Wednesday in accordance with a State Law that Limits Online Registration just ahead of an Election. But U.S. District Judge William Conley Ruled that the Online Portal must be put back in place because of the Coronavirus Outbreak that has Disrupted everyday activities around the Globe.
Conley, for now, Declined to Grant other Requests made by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the State Democratic Party, such as Allowing Absentee Ballots to be Counted if they Arrive after Election Day. Conley raised the Possibility in his 21-page Ruling that he would Allow that Practice in a Subsequent Decision in the coming weeks.
State officials have said it could take up to 72 hours to Resume Allowing People to Register through their Election Website. Under the Law, Registered Voters have until April 2nd to Request Absentee Ballots Online. Wisconsin allows Voters to Vote Absentee for Any Reason. As of Friday, more than 380,000 Voters had Requested Absentee Ballots. That's more than All Absentee Ballots that were cast in the 2016 Presidential Primary.
Reinstating the Online System that Allows People to Request Absentee Ballot would take up to Three Days and could result in Problems with Wisconsin’s Elections Systems, according to the State. Ordinarily, the State doesn't make Changes to its computer Systems in the Run-Up to an Election to Avoid Glitches. Conley, who was Nominated by President Barack Obama, Downplayed those Concerns and Ruled the State Must allow People to go Online to Register to Vote until March 30th.
People Cannot Request Absentee Ballots unless they are Registered to Vote. Conley noted under the Existing Rules those who were Not Registered to Vote would face a Difficult Choice in the Midst of a Health Crisis: "either venture into public spaces, contrary to public directives and health guidelines, or stay at home and lose the opportunity to vote."
Republicans who Control the Legislature have sought to Join the Lawsuit so they can Argue Rules for the Election should Not be Changed. They asked Conley to Throw Out the Case Friday, saying the Democrats had Not Provided Sufficient Evidence that the Election could be Conducted under the State's Long-Standing Protocols. A Lawyer for the Republican National Committee (RNC) and State Republican Party told the Court they Planned to try to Intervene in the Case as well.
Conley hasn't said yet whether he will let Lawmakers, the RNC, or the State Republican Party join the Case. But last year he barred GOP Lawmakers from Participating in a Lawsuit over the State's Abortion Laws. An appeals court upheld the decision to keep lawmakers out of that case, ruling that it would create an "intractable procedural mess" to have Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul's office and lawmakers both defending state laws.
On Friday, Governor Tony Evers' Top Attorney told the Elections Commission that the Wisconsin National Guard was Working with Volunteer Groups and Businesses to Recruit Poll Workers. If it can't find them through those Sources, the Governor will Call Up the Guard to help at the Polls, Chief Counsel Ryan Nilsestuen wrote in a Letter to the Commission.
The Evers Administration is also helping Clerks Secure Hand Sanitizers and Cleaning Supplies to keep Polling Sites Safe, he wrote.
UPDATE
On March 20th, U.S. District Court Judge William M. Conley Granted Injunction Relief in a Lawsuit filed by the DNC, and Extended the Deadline for Wisconsin Voters to Register to Vote On-Line from March 18th to March 30th. Democratic National Committee v Bostelmann, w.d., 3:20cv-249.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
