Early voting proving increasingly popular

The election day is now just five days away. Have you voted yet? Turns out lots of people have. Early voting is becoming increasingly popular in Wisconsin, and it appears there will be more absentee votes cast in the state this year than in the last gubernatorial election four years ago. City clerks throughout the state say they are getting more requests to vote early. Already some 400,000 absentee ballots have been requested by Wisconsin voters statewide. Some suggest the number of early votes, although less than in the 2016 presidential election, could double the total of four years ago in Wisconsin. In Onalaska, it is estimated that more than 20% of voters have requested absentee ballots. That is good news. It shows people are interested in the election enough to take time to vote. Early voting allows people to avoid long lines at the polls on election day, and because of that, those who do wait until Tuesday to vote won’t face as much congestion. Despite efforts by some state lawmakers to restrict early voting opportunities, Wisconsin law makes clear than any eligible voter can choose to vote early, without having to provide a reason why. We should make it as easy as possible for people to cast a ballot, even if it isn’t on election day. The more people who participate in an election, the better our democracy functions. So if you know who you will vote for, you may want to visit your local clerk’s office today. Then you can clear your schedule for next Tuesday knowing you have performed your civic duty.