Voters beware: Midtown Center early voting site is NOT a normal polling location

Alderman Khalif J. Rainey said that on November 8, 2022 – the day of the Fall General Election – hundreds of would-be voters showed up at the popular Midtown Center early voting location near N. 57^th St. and W. Capitol Dr., thinking they could cast their ballots there.

There was just one problem: Although open for early in-person absentee voting in the weeks leading up to November 8, the site at 5740 W. Capitol Dr. (adjacent to Alderman Rainey’s 7^th Aldermanic District) is NOT a normal City of Milwaukee voting ward polling location, the alderman said.

“For weeks these individuals had seen the signs about early voting at Midtown, and likely just assumed they could go there to vote on November 8^th,” Alderman Rainey said. “Thank goodness there were some Election Commission workers there for a portion of that morning, as they were able to redirect hundreds of voters to their correct polling locations.”

“I do not want to see that scenario repeated next Tuesday on primary election day, and I am asking the news media and organizations to help spread the word so no one is disenfranchised or discouraged from voting,” he said.

Voters can cast in-person absentee ballots at Midtown Center from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm today and tomorrow, and from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, February 18. After 3 pm on Saturday, large signs will be posted at Midtown stating ‘Early Voting Has Ended,’ and directing people to find their polling location by accessing the State of Wisconsin Elections Commission website (MyVote.WI.gov).

For anyone who is planning to vote in person on Spring Primary Election Day (February 21), Alderman Rainey has some advice: “Please do NOT go to Midtown Center, but please DO go to www.MyVote.WI.gov first to find your correct polling location,” he said.

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.