Early Voting Brisk In Shorewood

Early voting throughout the state has increased for the June 5 recall election compared to the recall primary election, and Shorewood is no exception to the trend.

Absentee ballots in Shorewood are approaching levels recorded for the gubernatorial election in 2010. Currently, 1128 absentee ballots have been issued, 709 of which were completed in person in Shorewood's Village Clerk office. In 2010, 1683 absentee ballots were received by the clerk's office. During the 2008 presidential election; however, 3856 absentee ballots were cast with approximately 700 on the last day absentee voting was permitted.

Absentee voting will continue for the recall election until 5 p.m. on Friday at , 3930 N. Murray Ave. All requests for mailed ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. Thursday.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett won the primary election, setting the stage for a recall election showdown against controversial Republican Gov. Scott Walker, whose legislation limiting collective bargaining for public employee unions spurred the recall.

Statewide, 113,558 absentee ballots were issued as of Friday, according to a news release from the Government Accountability Board. About 68,000 people voted absentee in the May 8 recall primary election.

There were 230,744 absentee ballots cast in the November 2010 General Election for governor, a release from the GAB states. As many as 75 percent of all absentee ballots are typically cast in the clerk’s office, with the remainder being delivered by mail.

“The numbers of absentee voters continues to grow,” said Kevin J. Kennedy, director and general counsel of the G.A.B, in the release. “There could be many reasons – voter enthusiasm and convenience, plus necessity for those who will be on vacation or away from home as the school year is coming to an end.”

Absentee ballot applications in English, Spanish and Hmong are available on the GAB website, as well as from municipal clerks.