Waupaca issued record number of absentee ballots
By Angie Landsverk
In the city of Waupaca, more people voted absentee than in person for the Tuesday, April 7 election.
“We issued 1,099 absentees,” said City Clerk Sandy Stiebs.
She said, “That’s the highest in absentees we’ve ever had.”
A total of 969 of those absentee ballots had already been returned, she told the Waupaca County Post on Wednesday, April 8.
“So we’re waiting for 130. They have to be postmarked by April 7, and then they will be counted Monday at 4 p.m.,” Stiebs said.
That is when the Board of Canvassers meets.
Election results will then be released.
A total of 1,363 people voted in Tuesday’s election, representing a 44% turnout in the city.
Stiebs said that figure includes the absentee votes.
Tuesday’s turnout compares to a 56% turnout on April 5, 2016, which was also a presidential preference election.
Stiebs said 1,780 people voted in the city that day.
There were 247 absentee votes for that election.
Prior to the 1,099 absentees issued for this spring’s election, the highest number of absentees was 948, Stiebs said.
That was for the Nov. 8, 2016 general election.
A total of 2,733 people voted in that election, which was an 83% turnout in the city.
This spring, municipalities encouraged people to vote absentee, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Efforts to keep poll workers, voters safe
The city of Waupaca took a number of steps to keep poll workers and voters safe.
That included having personal protective equipment for the poll workers, continual sanitizing of the area and taping off 6-foot distances for social distancing.
Stiebs said there were “spurts” of voters, and people were conscious of the 6-foot social distancing requirement.
Many voters wore masks, she said.
“We provided gloves, masks and shields for the workers,” Stiebs said.
Street Superintendent Roger Hansen made seven plexiglass shields for the election.
Stiebs got the idea from another clerk.
Last Saturday morning, Stiebs sent Hansen a picture of one of the shields.
He made the shields for the city over the course of Saturday and Sunday.
Those working at tables had a shield between them and the voters.
As on past election days, people voted in the new gym at the Waupaca Recreation Center.
Stiebs said the old gym was set up to handle overflow.
National Guard work at polls
Two poll workers canceled working the election due to concerns about COVID-19.
They were replaced by two members of the Wisconsin National Guard.
Stiebs said the state’s National Guard provided members for every county in the state.
County clerks were responsible for finding places for them.
The two members who helped in the city received training here the day before the election.
They learned about the set up for election day and the various jobs.
“That was a real plus,” Stiebs said of having them available. “They were top notch.”
The spring election included additional sanitizing measures.
“We had sanitizer everywhere,” she said.
Stiebs said the state provided sanitizing spray and bottles for every municipality.
It could be used on hands, as well as on all the voting equipment.
One poll worker was designated to wiping everything down throughout the day, she said.