As many UW-Madison students cram for midterm exams, the City Clerk's office is overwhelmed too: filing an abnormally high number of absentee ballot requests for the April 3 municipal elections.
""As of yesterday, the City Clerk is reporting 5,154 ballot requests in,"" Vote Naked's Electronic Media Chair Adam Lang said. ""That's more than double last year's spring election.""
The number of requests has many people excited about the election, including Lang, whose group is advocating online absentee ballot registration for students since this year's election will take place during UW-Madison Spring Break.
UW-Madison Freshman Brenna Mackin is one of the many students who took the time to vote absentee.
""I think it's easier because you don't actually have to go anywhere."" Mackin said. ""you can just sit in your room and do it.""
Despite the ease of absentee voting, Mackin said she believes many students will not take the time to vote due to the timing of the election.
""I think it's rather strange that they made the election during spring break when most students are not going to be here to vote so they have to go out of their way to get an absentee ballot.""
UW-Madison political science professor John Coleman said the interference is not an issue with the timing of the election, but spring break.
Because the law predetermines the election date, Coleman said if the university thinks student voting is important, they should have scheduled Spring Break around the election.
Coleman said the interference of spring break with the election would affect turnout.
""With students out of town, we'll certainly see fewer election-day registrations by students. The push for absentee ballot voting, on the other hand, will make up for some of those losses and should reduce the turnout effect of the timing of the spring election.""
Lauren Woods, a UW-Madison senior and District 8 alder candidate, said student voter turnout is usually low for this type of election and attributes the increased awareness to the campus campaigns promoting absentee voting. Wood said she is optimistic about the effects of absentee voters.
""I think the absentee votes will definitely help my campaign,"" Woods said.
""I think the early votes will help my campaign, and I think the votes on April 3 will help my campaign.""
Woods' opponent, UW-Madison sophomore Eli Judge, is also pleased with the number of absentee ballot requests.
""The election is during spring break and it takes a little extra push to vote and I'm really happy to see that students are taking that effort.""
According to Maribeth Witzel-Eehl at the city clerk's office, the office will have extended hours to allow more people to vote absentee. It will be open the next two Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Monday to Thursday until 6:30 p.m. Residents can register and vote while at the office.
