State Rep. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, began circulating a bill for signatures Thursday that would standardize in-person early voting procedures across the state by shortening the hours some clerks’ offices can stay open.
Current voting procedures vary across the state. Some offices only stay open until 5 p.m. while others allow citizens to vote later at night. Stroebel’s proposal would standardize the process so people can only cast votes between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Friday at the clerk’s office for three weeks preceding an election.
The proposal drew criticism from Scot Ross, director for the liberal advocacy group One Wisconsin Now. Ross said in a statement the proposal would restrict working-class voters from having access to early voting because of the shortened hours.
Stroebel defended the measure, saying it was only designed to standardize the process across the state and make the procedure equal and fair for all potential voters in Wisconsin.
