Election Protection Coalition Commends Progress, Urges Adequate Resources for Elections

February 19, 2007

On November 7, 2006, the non-partisan Election Protection coalition organized more than 100 community poll watchers, attorneys and law students to observe voting at 71 of Milwaukee’s 314 wards. The Milwaukee Legal Committee of Election Protection has now released its 2006 Election Review: Report from Non-Partisan Observers of Voting in the General Election in the City of Milwaukee on November 7, 2006.

“Certainly there has been progress since 2004,” said Attorney Barbara Zack Quindel, head of the Milwaukee legal team of Election Protection. “However, significant challenges remain, especially to recruit and train adequate numbers of poll workers. The city can also minimize delays and prevent heavy turnout from overwhelming poll workers by increasing pre-election registration, centralizing the absentee ballot count, providing materials in Spanish and Hmong, and improving polling place conditions.”

“Because voting is a fundamental right, it is crucial that the city and state provide the resources necessary to implement these recommendations,” added Karyn Rotker, legal team member and ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation attorney. “Rhetoric about the paramount importance of well-administered elections must be matched with a commitment to provide adequate funding, and we hope the state will find ways to share that cost burden.”

”Voter participation is on the rise – and that’s what we want in a democracy. Inadequate staffing and the lack of translated materials make it harder for eligible voters to exercise their rights, added Annie Wacker, President of Labor Community@Work, one of the organizations involved in Election Protection. “We need to make voting less difficult, especially in future elections where high turnout is expected, such as the 2008 elections for mayor and president.”

A copy of the Election Protection report on the November elections, which includes Election Protection’s observations of the September 2006 primary elections and the observations of Disability Rights Wisconsin on the November election, is available here. --30--

Click here for Press Release and 2006 Report

Click here for 2004 Report

Click here for more information on Voting Rights in Wisconsin.