Absentee voting interest seems high

In-office absentee voting for the Aug. 12 primary starts Monday and, if the votes cast this week at area nursing homes is any indication, municipal clerks can look forward to a busy election season.

Special voting deputies collected ballots Friday at the Birch Hill Health Care Center, 1475 Birch Hill Lane, in Shawano and took in a higher number than usual.

“Absentee voting for the nursing homes has far exceeded what it has in the past,” Shawano Deputy Clerk Lesley Nemetz said. “Typically we have three to four, sometimes up to 10 at a facility that will vote. The one today had 22.”

Nemetz said the county sheriff’s race seems to be the big draw.

“I think that one race in particular is getting a lot of people’s attention,” she said.

The city has also mailed out more than 100 absentee ballots to voters who won’t be in town Aug. 12., which Nemetz said is higher than normal.

Nursing home voting started Monday, while absentee voting for those who want to come in to City Hall starts this Monday.

The nursing home response “makes me think this is going to be a bigger election than we were even anticipating,” Nemetz said.

Voters can cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Monday through the Friday before election day, when ballots will be taken until 5 p.m.

One change enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature cut those hours back a bit, preventing anyone from voting before 8 a.m.

“That’s one change. Those people who tried to quick get in before work, we can’t do it till 8 a.m.,” Nemetz said.

Nemetz said those registering to vote will have to show proof of residence, such as a driver’s license, utility bill or bank statement.

Nemetz said because this is a partisan primary, the ballots are a little tricky.

“You have to pick a party and stick in that party,” she said.

Nemetz also said many voters might not be aware that they don’t need a reason to vote absentee.

“I think a lot of people maybe still have the impression that you need to have a reason to absentee vote,” she said, such as expectations of being out of town on election day.

“If you don’t want to be here with the big crowds and that’s what’s going to make you not want to vote, then come and see us for absentee voting,” she said. “It’s just you all by yourself, no big crowds and if that’s more your style or that’s going to make you more comfortable or make you want to vote, then do that, because you don’t have to have a reason other than you want to vote.”