By Chris Spangler
Turnout was looking good late this morning as Fort Atkinson voters went to the polls to cast ballots in the spring election.
“I think it looks great if you are inside the building,” a smiling City Clerk-Treasurer Michelle Ebbert said as electors shook raindrops off their coats and umbrellas upon entering the municipal building gym.
“If you’re outside, it’s going to look a little different,” she added.
The rain apparently was not deterring Fort Atkinson residents from doing their civic duty, for the usual earlybirds were lined up when the polls opened at 7 a.m.
“There’s always a line, and that’s fantastic. We had 70 voters in and out in 15 minutes. It was really great,” Ebbert said.
By 10 a.m., about 8% of the city’s 6,795 registered voters had cast their ballots.
“If we continue where we’re at, we could easily see about 2,000 people, or 30 to 35 percent,” Ebbert said, citing a quick flow of about 186 voters per hour.
“That is really good for a primary,” she continued. “I don’t mind a little bit of a line, because I want voters to be in the polling place to witness what is going on and witness the flow, to understand all the steps and to see exactly what takes place.”
She pointed out that the turnout percentage included about 670 absentee votes that had been returned as of early this morning.
“All of them we reconciled until midday yesterday; we had a cutoff point and then we processed those first and balanced (the ballots) to that,” Ebbert said. “Then we (will) process any that arrived after that and are brought in today.”
She said the U.S. Postal Service is “really great” about delivering absentee ballots that will come in yet this afternoon, adding that voters also may hand them in at the polls today.
Go with the flow
Glancing across the gym, Ebbert said that one of several things helping the polls run smoothly is the use of Badger Books, the electronic poll books that have “revolutionized” the voting process.
“Where we see a little bit of holdup is at the ballot table explaining the ballot, not only because it is two-sided, but it is the presidential preference,” she explained.
“In this situation, you pick one political party and pick one candidate within that party, so we make sure we point that section out to everyone.”
She said that the other thing that takes a moment is putting a ballot in the DS200 scanner/tabulator machine.
“How the tabulator is built is that it takes a picture of the ballots, front and back,” Ebbert explained. “The results are not tallied until the polls close at 8 o’clock that night.”
She said a second DS200 is on standby should the line to insert ballots in the first machine become too long.
“However, it usually goes quickly. There are a few times when there are seven or eight people in line, but the wait is not long. You’re out of the rain and you’re inside, so it’s OK.”
The clerk-treasurer also noted that voters might see some new faces checking them in and handing out ballots today.
“We have lots of new election workers. It’s fantastic,” she said. “We have them kind of split in shifts. We have those who have worked multiple elections with those who are just brand new so they can get some training.”
That greatly helps Ebbert and her two assistants, who also are on hand to answer questions.
“It is great having new inspectors,” she said.
What’s on the ballot?
In addition to the presidential primary and two statewide Constitutional referendums, Fort Atkinson’s ballot includes a school district referendum and city and Jefferson County races.
The city clerk-treasurer declined to speculate on whether the school district referendum would be the biggest draw of voters to the polls.”
“I would agree (that it is an important ballot item), but I won’t know until 8 o’clock tonight until I see the turnout and then I see the number of votes and the number of undervotes,” Ebbert said.
She encouraged voters to reread the language of the school district and state referendums, adding that they are posted on the bulletin board in the municipal building gym entrance.
“If at all else fails and you don’t understand them, then don’t answer them” she said of the state referendum questions. “Because if you can’t make an informed decision, it’s OK. And that’s what we tell voters who vote absentee and in-person in our office: ‘If you’re unsure, you don’t have to vote (on a question),” Ebbert said.
In the meantime, Ebbert invited electors to stop in at the polls as soon as they are able.
“Drive safe among the raindrops. We’re here until 8 o’clock and bring a form of ID,” she concluded.
John Beauchamp, at left, checks in a voter on his first day on the job. Fort Atkinson voters were finding many new election inspectors helping them at the polls today.
Poll worker Michelle Whisner, from left, registers new voter Jessica Pinn, who was accompanied by Linda Jones. Turnout was steady this morning as city of Fort Atkinson electors went to the polls to cast ballots in the spring election.
Kim Apel, at right, receives her ballot after receiving the information. Because the Fort Atkinson ballot contains not only the presidential primary and other city and county races, but also a school district and two state referendums, election workers today were explaining the two-sided ballots before handing them to voters.
Lines move quickly as mid-morning city of Fort Atkinson voters arrive at the polls. Turnout was steady City Clerk-Treasurer Michelle Ebbert, not pictured, said. She was anticipating a 30% to 35% voter turnout overall, she added.
Fort Atkinson resident Joann Bauer places her ballot in the DS200 scanner/tabulator machine. The machine photographs a ballot, front and back, and will not tabulate it until after the polls close at 8 p.m.
Chris Spangler photos.
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