Politics & Government

Walker Recall Update: Steady Voting Reported in Shorewood

On the big election day, Shorewood Patch has updates on the voting as well as everything you need to know before you head to the polls Tuesday.

4:30 p.m. Tuesday: With less than four hours before the polls close, nearly 60 percent of registered voters in Shorewood have casted a ballot.

That translates into 5,800 of the 9,915 registered voters, with long lines at polling location registration booths.

2 p.m. Tuesday: About 50 percent of registered voters have cast a ballot in Shorewood, according to Village Clerk Sherry Grant.

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Even with the high turnout, Grant said the polls have been free from issues.

"I think we are going to exceed what the state has been predicting (for voter turnout)," Grant said. "I originally was thinking 70 to 75 percent (turnout), now I'm thinking more than that."

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As Kit Vernon left Shorewood High School Tuesday afternoon, his shirt accented with a "I Voted Today" sticker, he said he voted for Tom Barrett and Mahlon Mitchell because he doesn't agree with Gov. Scott Walker's ultra-conservative point of view.

"Walker is a cretin," he said. "He has an ultra-conservative point of view and unlike all the media reports that say it's about collective bargaining, it's not. It's about women's issues, it's about the environment and it's about education. I'm somewhat empathic to the unions, but that's not what it's about."

Jane Ambrose said she voted for Barrett and Mitchell because she feels she can't trust Walker.

"I think Barrett will be able to reunite the state, and work better with everyone," she said.

Shannon Manske cast her ballot in favor of Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch at the high school because the economy has hit her family especially hard, with her husband out of work. She said the governor has done the right things to encourage growth in the state.

"The economy has quite literally almost killed me," she said. "We lost a ton of money on our house we sold about a year ago, which I would love to thank our president for.

"We have gone from a six-figure income in a lovely house to neither of us has a job and we are really scraping by. He (Walker) is doing good things for growth."

She added Democrats were the killing force behind a new iron mine in northern Wisconsin that would have created jobs in the state.

Manske added she feels like a political fish out of water voting Republican in Shorewood.

"I grew up in New Berlin, in a Republican family, and it's just always fit us," she said. People get so wrapped-up in the 'I'm a Democrat, I'm a Republican,' ... that they just can't see the reality."

— Adam McCoy

9 a.m. Tuesday: At 8:19 a.m., the ballot-counting machine at Lake Bluff Elementary read 314. At 8:34 a.m. it read 375. And the three lines spilling out of the gym actually got longer during those 15 minutes as voters continued to stream into the school.

"We've had good lines from the time the polls opened," said Chief Inspector Catherine Flaherty. "I've written nothing on my inspector statement that is out of the norm."

Turnout across the state is expected to be a record for a gubernatorial election, and is seen as critical in an election with so few undecided voters.

Exiting Lake Bluff, voter Richard Kessler said while the line was longer than usual, the process was smooth. He voted for Tom Barrett.

"I didn't like the whole process he went through," Kessler said.

— Matt Schroeder

Monday: Voters across the state, and in Shorewood, will head back to the polls Tuesday to choose between Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.

Walker faces recall after opponents turned in hundreds of thousands of signatures in an effort to boot him from office. Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators also face recall challenges.

Races on the ballot Tuesday are:

Governor: Scott Walker, Tom Barrett and Hari Trivedi

Lt. Governor: Rebecca Kleefisch and Mahlon Mitchell 

Registered voters can find information about their polling place and the races on the ballot at the Wisconsin Voter Public Access website. To see the details, enter your name and birthdate in the fieds provided and then click your name to get to the voter information page.

The state Government Accountability Board is projecting voter turnout of between 60 and 65 percent, but Director Kevin Kennedy said turnout is hard to predict because the state has never had an election like this before.

Polling places for all wards open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

Polling locations:

  • Wards 1 to 4: , 3930 N. Murray Ave.
  • Ward 5 to 8: , 1701 E. Capitol Dr.
  • Wards 9 to 12: , 1600 E. Lake Bluff Blvd.

The village has undergone redistricting of voting wards, so please check your address on the village's website if you aren't sure if you are still in the same ward.

FAQs about Tuesday's election

The Government Accountability Board, which oversees elections in Wisconsin, provided a list of answers to frequently asked questions about voting in Wisconsin. Here are some of the most important things to know.

Voter photo ID: The law is currently on hold as two lower court decisions stopping voter photo ID are being appealed. 

Check your registration – Elections officials urge voters to use the state's Voter Public Access website to make sure that they are registered at their current address.  Additionally, VPA will identify the races voters are eligible to vote in, and will tell voters whether they are eligible to vote within a Senate District that has a recall election. Voters who are unsure about whether they are eligible to vote in a state Senate recall primary or election should contact their municipal clerk’s office directly. If you have not registered to vote yet or you have a problem with your registration, contact your local municipal clerk’s office to check your options. You can register at the polling place on Election Day.

Know what proof of residence to bring: If you are already registered to vote, you will only need to state your name and address to receive a ballot, and are not required to provide any additional documentation. After stating your name, you will need to sign the poll list.

If you are registering at the polling place, make sure you have proof of residence and your Wisconsin driver’s license number. If you do not have a Wisconsin driver’s license, you can use the number from your Wisconsin ID card, or the last four digits of your Social Security number. Proof of residence can be established with a current lease, recent utility bill or other official document issued by a unit of government with the voter’s name and current address on it. A college photo ID is also acceptable if the institution has provided the polling place with a list of students who live in its housing and if the housing list includes citizenship information. 

Avoid bringing undue attention or risk causing a disturbance: The state also is urging voters not to wear campaign paraphernalia such as campaign/candidate buttons, shirts, hats, etc. inside the polling place. Those who wear campaign paraphernalia may be asked to cover it up or leave.


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