Wisconsin Republicans suddenly embrace early voting

For years, Republicans in Wisconsin have criticized the state’s early voting rules. They didn’t just criticize rules that allow voters to cast absentee ballots in advance of the election, they filed injunctions to try to stop them. Further, they claimed early voting opens the door to voter fraud. Funny then that Wisconsin Republicans are suddenly embracing the idea of casting ballots before election day. They worked to shorten hours and opportunities for early voting. They convinced the courts to do away with voting parties, reduce voter assistance for the infirmed and to do away with drop boxes as a place to return ballots. Now, Wisconsin Republicans are launching a first-in-the-nation effort to convince members of their party to vote early. Welcome to the party. It isn’t clear why the party suddenly is embracing early voting after years of criticism and legal challenges. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact they lost the last election, and that voters like the opportunity to vote when it is most convenient for them. But when people cast a ballot, it does not affect the outcome of the election. The state party chair says early voting will help them make up a Democratic advantage come election day. Perhaps he fails to realize allowing early voting doesn’t mean more votes will be cast. Regardless, it is good to see that Republicans now seem to be welcoming early voting efforts even if they fail to see the hypocrisy of their sudden change of course.