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As the pandemic wears on, Wisconsin election officials are vowing changes to the state’s mail-in ballot system, hoping to avoid a repeat of confusion that left many Wisconsin voters without requested ballots ahead of the April 7 election, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The biggest looming change: The Wisconsin Elections Commission will roll out a tracking system with the U.S. Postal Service.
“The Intelligent Mail system will consist of a unique barcode on each envelope that will be scanned at each postal facility, allowing voters to track exactly where their ballot is in the system,” according to the Journal Sentinel.
A May 15 Elections Commission report detailed postal issues and technical hiccups that caused thousands of absentee ballots to go missing ahead of April 7. Some of the ballots were sent but never delivered, triggering a U.S. Postal Service investigation. But the Elections Commission saw “overwhelming success” in local clerks’ performance in meeting record demands for absentee ballots as voters avoided the polls during the pandemic, the report said.
Top Stories
‘The idea is to simplify’: Wisconsin election officials vow major changes to absentee ballot system after chaotic spring vote — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Changes are coming to the absentee ballot request process. Here’s how that will affect Wisconsin voters. — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wisconsin, Dane County move to establish relief for renters — Cap Times
Milwaukee eases more restrictions to allow gyms to open, garage sales and more people in stores — WTMJ-TV
Racine plans to ‘publicly identify’ businesses that violate orders — Journal Times
With demand skyrocketing, food banks look at new solutions — WPR
Amazon outlines safety measures, plans to test employees in Kenosha — Kenosha News
Families find new ways to mourn — Door County Pulse
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Government updates
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
U.S. Centers and Disease Control and Prevention
Live updates
Live coverage from USA Today-Wisconsin reporters
Live coverage from Wisconsin State Journal reporters
Quotable
“Over the first several months of the pandemic, Wisconsin’s Northwoods has avoided an unmanageable number of COVID-19 cases. With summer arriving, though, the start of the tourism season and return of second homeowners to the region represents an uncertain variable for any future waves of infections.”
Ezra Zeitler and Ryan Weichelt, professors of geography at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, writing for WisContext
Data to note
Here’s the latest look at COVID-19 testing data, visualized by our partners at WisContext.
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Answering the call during a crisis: IMPACT 2-1-1 operators stay on the front lines during the pandemic — Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Menomonee Falls High School relocates a student’s graduation ceremony so dying father can celebrate — WTMJ-TV
Chin Up: Coronavirus is no match for a life-changing bond between football player with a brain injury and his trainer — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A comedian moved home just before coronavirus hit; now she’s making a popular Wisconsin-focused news show from her mom’s house — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (wisconsinwatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, PBS Wisconsin, other news media and the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication. All works created, published, posted or disseminated by the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of UW-Madison or any of its affiliates.
