Early Voting Doubles From Recall Primary Election in Waukesha

Early voting throughout the state has increased for the June 5 recall election compared to the recall primary election, and Waukesha’s no different.

Absentee ballots in Waukesha have doubled, according to Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Gina Kozlik. In May, the city issued a little more than 1,000 absentee ballots. Through Wednesday, the city mailed 1,964 ballots and had 464 people voting at the City Hall offices

The City of Waukesha will accept requests in writing received through May 31 for absentee ballots. The in-person voting ends at 5 p.m. Friday, June 1. City Hall is open until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and there will not be extended hours for absentee voters.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett won the primary election, setting the stage for a recall election showdown against controversial Republican Gov. Scott Walker, whose legislation limiting collective bargaining for public employee unions spurred the recall.

Statewide, 113,558 absentee ballots were issued as of Friday, according to a news release from the Government Accountability Board. About 68,000 people voted absentee in the May 8 recall primary election.

There were 230,744 absentee ballots cast in the November 2010 General Election for governor, a release from the GAB states. As many as 75 percent of all absentee ballots are typically cast in the clerk’s office, with the remainder being delivered by mail.

“The numbers of absentee voters continues to grow,” said Kevin J. Kennedy, director and general counsel of the G.A.B, in the release. “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.”

 Absentee ballot applications in English, Spanish and Hmong are available on the GAB website, as well as from municipal clerks.