MADISON (WKOW) -- State election officials say there has been large number of absentee ballots requested for the General Election on Tuesday.
The Government Accountability Board says, as of Monday morning, more than 545,000 voters requested absentee ballots so far, and that includes more than 392,000 in clerks' offices and 152,148 ballots requested by mail and other methods.
"It is clear absentee voting plays an important role in the election, with more than half a million people making requests during a shorter time period," said Kevin Kennedy, Wisconsin's chief election official. "Absentee voting in clerks' offices finished up Friday, giving clerks more time to be better prepared for Election Day on Tuesday."
The absentee ballot numbers for Wisconsin are not complete because only military and permanent overseas absentee ballots are required to be tracked in the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS). However, approximately 350 municipalities, including most major cities, track some or all absentee ballots in addition to military and overseas ballots in SVRS.
In 2008, 21 percent, or 633,610, of the 2.99 million ballots cast were absentee ballots. Kennedy said it is still too early to say whether absentee voting will exceed 2008 numbers.
In-person absentee voting in the clerk's office ended on Friday. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received in the municipal clerk's office by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election in order to be counted.
Elections Division Administrator Nat Robinson urged the majority of voters who are going to the polls on Election Day to be prepared by visiting the
My Vote Wisconsin website, where they can find their clerk's location and contact information, as well as see a sample ballot and check their voter registration status.
Additional information about absentee voting is available on the
Board's website.
On 27 News at 5 tonight, Kevin Kennedy will join us to discuss voter turnout and what voters need to know about election day.
