MADISON-Representative LaKeshia Myers (D-Milwaukee), applauds election reform bills heard in the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections. Representative Myers released the following statement:
“The four bills heard in committee–AB 282, AB 283, AB 298, and AB 299 today provide an equitable approach to ensure fidelity and access in the election process.
I am especially fond of AB 298, a measure that would prohibit a municipality from closing more than half of its polling places within thirty days of an election. During the spring election of 2020, the city of Milwaukee reduced the number of active polling locations from one hundred eighty (180) to five (5). The site closures came days before the election and was done without proper notice to voters. There were no postcards mailed to let voters know where their new polling place would be and some information that was listed in the online database was incorrect, forcing some voters to be sent to multiple polling locations on election day.
The fact that the City of Milwaukee, our state’s largest municipality of nearly 600,000 people was limited to only five polling places, made absolutely no sense, even in the midst of a pandemic. Especially considering smaller municipalities like Madison, had sixty-six (66). That math just doesn’t add up. Was this voter suppression? In my opinion, yes.
I am thankful for Senator Taylor and Representatives Sortwell and Ortiz Velez’s leadership on this reform package. Their advocacy and leadership on this issue should be commended and I hope they receive an affirmative vote in the committee.”
