(MADISON, WI) – Today, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is renewing its call for safe and fair elections and universal vote-by-mail ahead of a hearing from U.S. District Judge William Conley that will decide what changes will be made to the April 7th election.

Wisconsin Democrats, along with Souls to the Polls, Reverend Greg Lewis, Voces de la Frontera, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, American Federation of Teachers Local, 212, AFL-CIO, SEIU Wisconsin State Council, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, and the Democratic National Committee, have brought lawsuits that call for allowing Wisconsinites to cast their absentee ballot without needing a witness, allowing ballots to be postmarked by election day rather than received by election day, and postponing the date of the election.

Ahead of the hearing today, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:

“Nobody should have to choose between their health and their vote. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin again calls to expand absentee voting rights and endorses the call by civil rights groups to extend the election so that every eligible voter can safely and securely vote by mail. We look forward to the court’s ruling, and we urge Republicans in the state legislature to take immediate action to protect the public health and voting rights of Wisconsinites.”

Across the state, Wisconsin’s election infrastructure is in dire need with nearly 60% of Wisconsin municipalities short on poll workers and 111 municipalities unable to staff even a single polling location In Milwaukee alone, election officials have reduced the number of polling locations from 180 to fewer than 12.

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