The prospect of universal mail-in voting appeals to Lynn Gerlach, the Alderperson for Green Bay’s District 3, after having voted by mail in Washington.
Gerlach told the Green Bay Reporter that she voted by mail in the state of Washington for 10 years and is very much in favor of the method in Wisconsin.
“We don't have universal mail-in voting, but we have no excuse absentee ballot requests,” Gerlach told the Green Bay Reporter.
She helps people register to vote and to request absentee ballots early enough so that they can vote safely.
“I think joining a pandemic, it's very smart to find a safe way to vote," she said
Having served as an alderperson for approximately four months, Gerlach said she wasn’t familiar with the nonpartisan Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), which gave five Wisconsin cities $6.3 million to help those jurisdictions administer elections this year during COVID-19.
Green Bay’s share of the grants was just shy of $1.1 million, with Racine, Madison, Milwaukee and Kenosha also receiving the funds.
The five mayors of those cities applied for the Wisconsin Safe Voting Plan grant applications, which CTCL approved.
The nonprofit CTCL receives financial support from left-leaning organizations, including the Democracy Fund, Democracy Works, e.thePeople/League of Women Voters, MapLight, Metric Geometry & Gerrymandering Group, the National Institute on Money in Politics and We Vote, Influence Watch reported on its website.
Gerlach said she was not familiar with CTCL, or the Green Bay Reporter’s definition of left-leaning and wasn't able to offer an opinion or comment about it.
“I would say that if someone is going to give money, let the municipality figure out how to improve their elections," she said. "That sounds like a smart thing, OK. As long as they don't tell them how to use the money."
The grant funds are divided among efforts that include supporting early in-person voting and vote by mail by expanding early voting sites that include curbside voting and helping voters complete absentee ballot requests. Secure drop-boxes for absentee ballots are part of the plans for grant funds. Drop-boxes have become controversial, with Democrats pushing for their use and President Trump going so far as to take states to court to stop their use, WTVB reported.
“The coronavirus pandemic has provided a stress test for our democratic institutions, including our elections, and we know we must do better,” Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich told Spectrum News 1. “The support of the Center for Tech and Civic Life will enable us to ensure that all Green Bay citizens can exercise their right to vote safely and securely in August and November.”
Recruiting, training and establishing safety measures for poll workers and inspectors is another area that was funded, including acquiring personal protective equipment and disinfectant.
Voter education and outreach would help voters keep their addresses and voter registration information updated.
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