Politics & Government

Absentee Voting In Caledonia About Double That in Recall Primary

The number of people asking for absentee ballots in Caledonia isn't as high as the November 2010 general election, but they are certainly higher than the number requested in the recall primary election last month.

As the June 5 recall election draws near, Caledonia Village Clerk Karie Torkilsen say her office has received about 1,900 absentee ballots — double cast during the primary election last month.

Of those 1,900 ballots, 1,500 are temporary and 400 are permanent absentee ballot requests. This number of absentee ballot requests in Caledonia is following a statewide trend, according to the Government Accountability Board, which oversees elections in Wisconsin.

“I’m expecting a lot more people to come in next week to vote in person,” Torkilsen said. “The deadline to request an absentee ballot by mail is the May 31, so based on what we are getting in the mail per day I would guess an additional 50 to 75.”

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Temporary ballots are for voters who are voting absentee for this election only.  Permanent ballots are for those who always get ballots mailed to them due to age or disabilities.

As of Friday afternoon, 113,558 absentee ballots had been issued statewide, the GAB said in a press release. There were 68,000 absentee ballots were handed out in the May 8 gubernatorial recall primary and 230,744 absentee ballots were cast in the November 2010 general election.

Find out what's happening in Caledoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The numbers of absentee voters continues to grow,” said Kevin J. Kennedy, director and general counsel of the GAB. “There could be many reasons — voter enthusiasm and convenience, plus necessity for those who will be on vacation or away from home as the school year is coming to an end.”

In-person absentee voting in the clerk’s office runs through 5 p.m. or the close of business on Friday, June 1, whichever is later. Some clerks are offering extended hours to handle demand. Voters can find their local clerk’s office address and phone number on Voter Public Access: vpa.wi.gov.


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