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What election problems? La Crosse political analyst says local balloting went smoothly

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The spring election wasn’t a mess everywhere in Wisconsin. 

While pictures of long lines of voters in big cities have made the news, election day was more orderly in La Crosse and other smaller communities, according to UW-L political scientist Joe Heim.     

“The county clerks in the La Crosse area have done a really marvelous job,” said Heim. “They were well-prepared for this, they thought their way through it, and that’s why it was so smooth.”

County polling places were equipped with hand-washing stations, and physical protections for poll workers to guard against coronavirus. 

Heim tells WIZM’s La Crosse Talk that the state should spend more on security measures at the polls before the November election. 

While cities like Milwaukee and Green Bay only kept a handful of polling places open, the city of La Crosse had 8 polling sites, compared to the usual 13.

Heim also says the election seems to demonstrate that local Republicans were better organized in getting out the vote than Democrats were.

The retired professor says there are likely to be lawsuits filed after election results are released next week, and that’s “sad.” 

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.

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1 Comment

  1. Randy

    April 8, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    First of all it was ridiculous for this to even happen and to say that it went smoothly is a statement that shouldn’t have even had the opportunity to be said. Why are we out voting with this terrible virus in full bloom. Republicans taking advantage of the situation at hand. I don’t know what else to say other than we should have not had to decide between our health and our right to vote.

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