Polls open amid pandemic in Wisconsin Partisan Primary

Polls are open for Wisconsin's Partisan Primary

IM VINCE VITRANO.

VOTERS AREAT THE POLLS TODAY FORWISCONSIN'S FALL PRIMARY.

IT'STHE FIRST STATEWIDE ELECTIONSINCE THE CONTROVERSIAL ANDHIGHLY SCRUTINIZED VOTE EARLYIN THE PANDEMIC BACK IN APRIL.WHILE CONCERNS OF A COVIDSPIKE TIED TO THAT ELECTIONNEVER MATERIALIZED......SAFETY REMAINS A PRIMARYCONCERN FOR THIS PROCESS.

BENJORDAN IS LIVE WITH MORE ONHOW THINGS ARE GOING INMILWAUKEE TODAY.VINCE - THIS WAS ONE OF JUST 5POLLING LOCATIONS DURING THESPRING PRIMARY - BY LATEAFTERNOON LINES EXTENDEDFOOTBALL SPARKING CONCERNSABOUT THE SPREAD OF HOWEVERTHAT IS NOT EXPECTED TO TODAYWITH FAR MORE POLLING SITES.HERE'S A LOOK INSIDE THISVOTING LOCATION - ELECTIONLEADERS SAY ALL POLL WORKERSHAVE BEEN PROVIDED P-P-E.

THENATIONAL GUARD IS ALSOASSISTING.THIS IS THE FIRSTWISCONSIN ELECTION WITH THESTATEWIDE MASK MANDATE INPLACE.

THE MILWAUKEE ELECTIONCOMMISSION SAYS THEY HAVEN'THAD ANY ISSUES YET WITH PEOPLEREFUSING TO WEAR FACECOVERINGS.IF VOTERS ARE EXEMPTFROM THE MANDATE DUE TO HEALTHCONDITIONS OR FOR RELIGIOUSREASONS THEY WILL STILL BEALLOWED TO VOTE.

CURBSIDEVOTING IS ALSO AN OPTION FORTHOSE WHO WOULD FEEL MORECOMFORTABLE DOING SO.MILWAUKEE'S ELECTIONCOMMISSION SAYS IT SENT OUT 83-THOUSAND ABSENTEE BALLOTS -MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE HAVEALREADY BEEN RECEIVED.

SEVERALTHOUSAND MORE ARE EXPECTED TOARRIVE BY THE 8 P.M.

DEADLINE.THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REMINDSPEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T MAILEDTHERE'S YET TO NOT BRING THEIRABSENTEE BALLOTS TO POLLINGClaire Woodall-Vogg - ElectionCommission Executive Director{10:0} "They cannot take itto their polling place - therewould be a risk that wewouldn't receive it by 8p -either return to city hallroom 501 or 1901 SKinnickinnick Ave by 8p."PEOPLE WHO PLAN TO VOTE INPERSON TODAY ARE ASKED TO FINDTHEIR POLLING LOCATION BYVISITING MYVOTE.WI.GOV ANDCLICK ON 'FIND MY POLLINGPLACE' USING YOUR ADDRESS.

YOUCAN ALSO FIND THE RACES ONYOUR BALLOT THERE AS WELL.