Milwaukee County Officials Order All Municipal Polling Places Closed

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County officials issued an executive order Monday declaring that all municipal in-person polling places shall not open and must remain closed on Election Day, April 7, in accordance with Governor Tony Evers‘ Executive Order #74, which banned in-person voting statewide.

County Executive Chris Abele and Director of Emergency Management Christine Westrich jointly issued the order, which “directs that polling places in the County of Milwaukee shall not open on April 7, 2020, and shall remain closed for election purposes until June 9, 2020” unless the Governor or Legislature take further action or a court orders otherwise.

“Today we issued a county-wide order directing all municipal clerks within Milwaukee County to close all in-person polling locations that were scheduled to be open on Election Day. Protecting the health of our neighbors and our community is our top priority right now and allowing for in-person voting would undermine that effort,” said Director Westrich.

“Governor Evers absolutely made the right call to put the health and welfare of every Wisconsinite above politics,” said Abele. “Just as the right to free speech is not limitless, the right to vote does not trump the more fundamental rights to life, health and safety. If forced to proceed with in-person voting during the coronavirus pandemic, the right to vote would be elevated above the right to life, health and safety – this idea is contrary to the most basic constitutional principles.”

Although Milwaukee County acted relatively early to begin implementing social distancing measures, community leaders across the county have been urging leaders in state government to suspend in-person voting for weeks.

Officials across Milwaukee County, including local mayors, village presidents, health officers, and election officials plan to release a coordinated statement and order later today, further implementing and clarifying the intention of all jurisdictions within Milwaukee County to follow the Governor’s Order and cooperate to protect human lives, while ensuring the fair and orderly administration of the election.