It is not clear why the governor waited so long, or what the Republican legislature will do. But an election under these conditions with in-person voting where voters are urged to stay home would be undemocratic and inhumane.
Gov. Tony Evers in a last-minute plea Friday asked state lawmakers to stop people from voting together on Tuesday to prevent thousands from being exposed to the coronavirus, but Republicans who control the Legislature said no.
The GOP leaders instead criticized Evers for also calling for the election to move to May 19 — a reversal from previously pushing to keep the election date in place — and not asking them to take action before Friday. Both said Tuesday’s spring election must be held to preserve democracy.
“Hundreds of thousands of workers are going to their jobs every day, serving in essential roles in our society. There’s no question that an election is just as important as getting take-out food,” Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a statement.
But Fitzgerald and Vos had no answer to how local election officials are supposed to keep people safe as a massive shortage of poll workers has resulted in the closure or reduction of polling locations, forcing more people to vote at a single site.