APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Early and absentee voting starts on Tuesday for the 2022 spring election and voters looking to vote absentee should expect several changes from last election.
Appleton City Clerk Kami Lynch says so far, the clerks office has mailed 3,231 absentee ballots to residents for the 2022 spring election.
“For voters that are voting by mail or receiving their absentee ballot by mail, we do not have drop off boxes for them available for this election for individuals to return their voters that way,” said Lynch.
Lynch says for the 2021 spring election, there were a total of 3,855 absentee ballots. Two hundred thirty-three of those were from in-person absentee voting, 127 were from special voting deputies and 3,495 were mailed absentees. So the changes have a big impact.
The Appleton City Clerk says you have the option of mailing your absentee ballot back by utilizing the provided envelope with pre-paid postage.
“They should do so sooner rather than later so that we have time to mail that ballot to them and they have time to mail it back or plan if they prepare to hand deliver it in person,” said Lynch.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has not ruled on the underlying case that will determine the legality of absentee drop boxes going forward in the state.
But for this spring election, it is illegal to have drop boxes outside of the clerks’ office.
Lynch says you can still return your absentee ballot in person, but it has to be you.
“We are only able to accept ballots in person from the individual voter that voted that ballot,” said Lynch.
Lynch suggests to check your local municipality’s clerks’ office hours to make sure you can deliver your ballot.
Voters can also bring their absentee ballot to their polling place on Election Day.
Appleton residents can register to vote at the Clerk’s Office by April 1.
Statewide, voters can register at your polling place on Election Day.
