Common Council approves Miller Park and Fiserv Forum voting sites

The Common Council today unanimously approved legislation to provide in-person absentee voting at the Fiserv Forum and the parking lots around Miller Park ahead of the November 3^rd Presidential and Fall General Election.

The new expansive in-person absentee voting sites – made possible by the Milwaukee Brewers and the Milwaukee Bucks – meet requirements that in-person voting locations comply with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention safety guidelines. The sites were approved today by a resolution for immediate adoption (File # 200621) sponsored by Common Council President Cavalier Johnson.

The action authorizes the Election Commission to move forward with staffing the two venues for in-person absentee voting that will allow significant physical/social distancing, President Johnson said. A news conference yesterday announcing the new sites (held outside the Fiserv Forum) included President Johnson, Mayor Barrett and Milwaukee Bucks Senior VP Alex Lasry.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an increased interest in and demand for absentee voting, with 80% of ballots cast in the City Spring Election being absentee ballots,” President Johnson said.

“Offering in-person absentee voting at larger sites with greater opportunities for social distancing throughout the city meets CDC requirements and may further racial equity and access to in-person voting, and the Bucks’ players, coaches, staff and ownership (as well as those of other NBA teams) have made it a top priority to have the Fiserv Forum and other NBA arenas serve as voting locations, as is same with the Brewers and Miller Park,” he said, adding: “I would also like to thank Election Commission Executive Director Claire Woodall-Vogg for her work in helping secure these two important early-voting locations.”

The Fiserv Forum will be used for in-person early voting October 20 – November 1. The location will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday – Friday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Miller Park dates and hours are TBA.

Both the Fiserv Forum and Miller Park will be used exclusively for early voting. The Milwaukee Election Commission has established 170 neighborhood-based voting locations for Election Day.

The Election Commission is working with its partners to recruit residents seeking work to help staff in-person absentee voting sites. The Commission is also working to recruit an additional 750 Election Day workers to ensure that lines are not congested, polling places are cleaned and disinfected frequently and that they have a safety net should staff members fall ill. Milwaukee County residents who are interested in working as poll workers can apply at milwaukee.gov/election.

Residents seeking to receive an absentee ballot can go to https://city.milwaukee.gov/election/Voter-Info/VotingbyAbsenteeBallot, and those seeking to register to vote can go to https://city.milwaukee.gov/election/Voter-Info/RegisterToVote.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.