Do you know where to vote? (IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL VOTERS)

The spring general election is coming up on Tuesday, April 3. There’s been a lot of discussion and changes with regard to this (and future) elections.

For example, polling places for many residents have changed and will be effective with this upcoming election. I don’t know what other cities, local townships or the various counties have done, but the City of Oshkosh sent out maps with water bills and some people happened to see maps in other places. I believe the maps that went out with the water bills were in black and white. But there are some maps floating around the city that were done in color and people have commented that those maps in particular are difficult to read and it’s very unclear where people are to vote. It’s hard to say if the colored versions were not as understandable because of the color, or for some other reason. But it is probably a good idea if BEFORE going to the polls you give your city, town, or county clerk a call and ask them where you are to vote. Otherwise you may get to what you think is your polling place and not be able to vote there because of the change. And you can’t be guaranteed that those poll workers would know where your new polling place is.

If you’re voting absentee, you can either go to your city or town hall to vote (please call to find out when you are able to vote there) or you can request an absentee ballot be sent to you. If using that option, you need to make the request in writing and sign it, providing them with your name and address, of course.

The other change is with regard to the new Voter ID requirement. Poll workers have been trained in the new law, which was scheduled to be fully enforceable beginning with this election. But so far, two judges have ruled against the law, preventing it from taking effect for this election. So you shouldn’t have to present your ID at the polling places or submit a copy of it with a request for an absentee ballot. But if you want to play it safe, you can always either take it with you or provide it anyway. It’s never too early to start getting in the habit of doing something that we might eventually have to do anyway. 

The main thing is to make sure to vote – whether absentee or on April 3. It’s important to do as a taxpayer and as a citizen; it helps shape the kind of community we live in.