The Daily Wisconsin's Pandemic Primary
Apr 7, 2020
Astead W. Herndon, a national politics reporter for The New York Times, discusses Wisconsin's controversial decision to hold its primary amid the pandemic. He highlights the clash between public health concerns and political motivations. The conversation delves into significant challenges like reduced polling locations, partisan conflicts over absentee voting, and the state’s historical political divides. Astead provides insight into how these dynamics affect voting rights and governance, underscoring the broader implications for democracy during a health crisis.
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Wisconsin's Pandemic Primary
- Wisconsin's Democratic primary continued despite the pandemic, prioritizing local elections.
- Officials initially agreed on the importance of these races for the state government's function.
Shifting Circumstances
- The pandemic's intensification in Wisconsin led to a stay-at-home order.
- Officials explored workarounds for in-person voting, but poll workers, mostly senior citizens, began to quit due to safety concerns.
Partisan Divide
- The shortage of poll workers caused jurisdictions to drastically reduce polling locations.
- Governor Evers proposed a universal mail-in voting system, causing partisan backlash from Republicans.