Council approves election grants to help provide voting access, security

At today’s meeting of the Common Council (Tuesday, July 28), the Council approved two resolutions aimed at providing greater access and security during the upcoming August and November elections. Both resolutions – sponsored by Common Council President Cavalier Johnson – authorize the city to accept more than $2.4 million in grant funding to bolster voting security and to proper handling and administration of higher numbers of requests for absentee ballot applications amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

“I want to thank my colleagues for supporting these two grants as we move closer to the fall elections, the importance of which cannot be stated enough,” said Alderman Johnson. “These elections will present challenges as our community continues to battle COVID-19, but this additional funding will allow us to be better equipped while also reducing the burden on taxpayers.”

File #200445 is a resolution relative to the acceptance and funding of the WEC CARES Subgrant, issued by the Wisconsin Elections Commission, and authorizes the Milwaukee Election Commission to accept and fund additional election administration costs associated with the national emergency related to coronavirus in the amount of $323,861. The grant will provide funding for increases in postage and operating costs due to higher levels of absentee voting and increased absentee voting education.

File #200448 is a resolution relative to acceptance and expenditure of the Center for Tech and Civic Life (“CTCL”) grant for planning and implementing a safe and secure election administration in the City of Milwaukee in accordance with the Wisconsin Safe Voting Plan 2020.

The CTCL grant will help pay for personal protective equipment, poll worker recruitment and an additional $100 compensation increase for poll workers. Election Inspectors will now receive $230 for a full-day shift and Chief Inspectors will receive $325. The grant will also provide funding for an assessment of election administration needs, budget estimates for such an assessment, and an assessment of the impact of the plan on voters.

“We are expecting a high number of requests for absentee ballot applications via our SafeVote program in preparation for what I believe to be the most important election of our lifetime,” Alderman Johnson said. “With less than 100 days until the general election, we will continue to make sure voting is as safe and accessible as possible for our residents.”

For more information on becoming a poll worker visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/Helpmilwaukeevote or call (414) 286-3491.

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.