Milwaukee Officials Expect High Turnout For Presidential Election

Milwaukee is expecting turnout numbers to be high by the time polls close Tuesday.

Neil Albrecht, executive director of the city’s Election Commission, said 87 percent of the city’s registered voters and 70 percent of eligible voters are expected to cast a ballot at one of the city’s 195 polling places.

High volume at the polls won’t keep people who show up on time from having a chance to vote, Albrecht said.

“The key is you have to be in line,” Albrecht said. “You can’t be walking from the parking lot. You can’t be looking for a parking space. You can’t be walking through the building. You have to be in that line by 8 p.m.”

Albrecht said about 20 to 30 percent of city voters cast their ballots Tuesday morning from 7 to 9 a.m. He said other peak times for voters are from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.

He said voters need to make sure they have a valid photo ID, and he asked for their patience.

Tom Brown, election observer from the Wisconsin Democratic Association, said he was present to make sure people had easy paths to the polls.

“I’m here to make sure that things go smoothly,” Brown said. “To see if there’s any problem with ID or people registering to vote.”

Lauren Burgess registered and voted Tuesday in Bayview.

“It was very smooth,” Burgess said. “I didn’t know what I was doing because this is a new address here, so I’ve never voted here. And so I had to re-register and then vote. It was quick, in and out in 10 minutes.”

Pauline Tanem, also an election observer from the Wisconsin Democratic Association, credited early voting for relatively short lines and few problems reported across the city.

“There’s a lull right now so I would say yeah, it’s helped,” Tanem said. “The early voting has helped. I think the earlier and the more days is the best.”

Brittany Vacaro, a Bayview resident, voted Tuesday as well.

“I would’ve chose to vote early but with work I didn’t have time,” Vacaro said. “I think it’s been a crazy election year, I’m just happy it’s over. Almost.”

Polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday across Wisconsin.