New polling place rules likely to affect today's elections
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Election coverage
Click here to find out everything you need to know about voting and the races in Rock County.
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Workers at the Janesville City Clerk’s Office test voting machines for accuracy in preparation for today’s primary election. Today is the first time state voters will go to the polls under a series of new rules imposed by state lawmakers.
Tuesday is the first time Wisconsin voters will go to the polls under a series of new rules imposed by state lawmakers.
Here are five things you need to know before you go to the polls.
1. Know about registration. You still can register to vote at the polls, but rules have changed. You must be a resident of the jurisdiction in which you vote for 28 consecutive days instead of the previous 10 days.
You must present proof of residency, which could be a current Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin ID card. If you have never been issued a Wisconsin driver's license, you may register using:
-- A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year preceding the election.
-- A residential lease that is effective for a period that includes Tuesday.
-- A gas, electric or telephone service statement for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before Tuesday.
If you're already registered, see below.
2.Know what to bring. You will not be allowed to vote without a valid photo ID.
A Wisconsin driver's license, passport, or Wisconsin ID card are the most common accepted forms of ID. If you have applied for a driver's license or state ID but have not received it yet, the receipt for those cards can be used as photo identification at the polls, according to the state Department of Transportation.
Your photo ID can even be expired, if it expired after Nov. 2, 2010.
If you don't have the correct ID, you may still cast a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are counted only if the voter shows proper ID at the local clerk's office by 4 p.m. Friday.
For more on this topic, go online to bringit.wisconsin.gov. Those who do not have Internet access can call toll-free, 1-866-868-3947. Local voting maps, articles about candidates and referendums, copies of ballots and other information also are available here.
3.Know where to go. Polling places have changed for some voters, especially in larger municipalities. To find out where you vote, go online to vpa.wi.gov. Rock County residents can check out the maps posted here or call their municipal clerks.
4.Know what to do. New rules require that you state your name and address to the poll worker, even if you have known each other all your lives. Then you must show your ID and sign the poll book. Signing the poll book also is new.
5.Know what's next. Remember this is just the beginning of an intense political season. The presidential preference primary is April 3, as are a variety of local, nonpartisan elections. The fall primary has been moved from September to the second Tuesday in August, and the presidential and congressional elections, among others, are Nov. 6.
And of course, Wisconsin is likely to have some recall elections this year.
Feb 27, 2012 at 12:19 p.m.
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"And guess what... no real reports of slow down in the polls, and actually a few reports of speedier times at the polls."
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And guess what totell, that tends to happen when there are fewer individuals voting! Is that your point?
Feb 22, 2012 at 11:04 p.m.
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As has been the history for Red, not understanding the printed word and then echoing false comments has become a pattern.
Feb 22, 2012 at 12:49 p.m.
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I find it quite interesting that some places in the world manage to educate kids with $6 and a flat patch of dirt to scratch uppon but we have "millions of uneducated kids" because the taxpayer no longer can afford to pony up for an extra couple of lanes in the gyms swimming pool. Sounds like an administrative budgeting priority problem rather than a problem with incoming funds.
Feb 22, 2012 at 12:46 p.m.
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And guess what... no real reports of slow down in the polls, and actually a few reports of speedier times at the polls.
Feb 22, 2012 at 11:42 a.m.
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Wow, RAF's 10,000h comment!! So many words, so little said.
Feb 22, 2012 at 3:51 a.m.
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Koch_Bros, any plans for a patriotic gala to celebrate RAF's 10,000h comment?
Feb 22, 2012 at 12:24 a.m.
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I'm sure that your license says you are 2 foot 2, 45 pounds; like all pathetic trolls.
Feb 22, 2012 at 12:13 a.m.
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I'm sure that your license says you are 6 foot 2, 185 pounds. Like a fighting Patriot should be har har har. And that's without the tri-cornered hat and blunderbuss.
Feb 21, 2012 at 10:56 p.m.
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I felt so terrible having to reach in my wallet to extract my ID. Felt like I was at the DMV or a bank, how horrible. I barely survived.
Feb 21, 2012 at 8:37 p.m.
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Bun Bun
I couldn't make my way to the polling place because of the millions of uneducated kids protesting in the streets because of education budget cuts....it was challenging....
Feb 21, 2012 at 8:23 p.m.
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More republican led attempts to limit voter access:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/W...
Feb 21, 2012 at 4:26 p.m.
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Yup. As a result of the Republican "laser focus on jobs", we can all deal with this new law which creates a solution in search of a problem. Well done!
Feb 21, 2012 at 4:05 p.m.
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Went to my new polling place to vote today and during the nearly ten minutes I was there, two people with ID's and registered to vote were not found in the books. Beeauuutiful.
Feb 21, 2012 at 2:56 p.m.
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This election is a celebration of the new Patriotic Poll Tax!
How many of you wore your tri-cornered hats to the polls today? I bet with that hat on you didn't even need the ID..hey ,maybe next time we'll make it so a voter must be wearing a tri-cornered hat in the photo for it to be considered legit...hahahaha...keep shooting for the Stars, my Patriots!
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Feb 21, 2012 at 2:41 p.m.
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Which party is always at the front lines yelling FRAUD if they lose an election? Come on, take a wild guess. Give up? Would you believe the DEMOCRATS?
Feb 21, 2012 at 1:42 p.m.
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Really bunbun, because the same bunch that whine and complain and criticize "gubmint" intrusion and overreach now welcome government mandated restrictions for the expressed purpose of fixing a problem which does not exist. But then Republicans obviously believe the government must step in and spend millions of taxpayer dollars to insist voters present a photo ID since the estimated fraud rate is a whopping 0.0002 percent. How long did it take you to write your stupid comment supporting the comment supporting voter photo ID, totellthetruth? No kidding!
Feb 21, 2012 at 1:20 p.m.
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No kidding and I agree with all of you. This recall effort is a hundred times more annoying and time consuming (and expensive), but wow, those hardships at the polls! Thank you Walker for accountability, and returning freedoms. I have started paying more for my retirement and I am now self-removed from the union...no complaints from me. This NEEDED to be done. I just hope the silent majority shows up when it is needed.
Feb 21, 2012 at 1:16 p.m.
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So what's with the headline???
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"New polling place rules likely to affect today's elections"
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What exactly is likely to change? And how was that discussed in any way via the body of the news article?
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The article itself was helpful, insightful and delivered important information that voters and prospective voters may need to know.
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Elections affected?????? to quote Prof. Eyster: "Exactly how did your article describe any affectation or effect to WE THE PEOPLE?
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The body of the article had absolutly nothing at all to do with the headline.
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Gazette Hacks in charge... Stop it!
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It makes you look like morons to be provocative without reason.
Feb 21, 2012 at 1:07 p.m.
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Good one BunBun... Slam dunk!
Feb 21, 2012 at 12:33 p.m.
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OMG Bun Bun, you are so right, I forgot that. Did you have a hard time getting to the polls because of the mounds of bodies? I must have taken a back road, because I have missed them? and frogger, the 2 seconds to protect the integrity of the vote, my goodness, how unfair, I mean, how I could have used that 2 seconds to write a stupid comment on how bad the Governor is doing! I mean come on people!
Feb 21, 2012 at 12:29 p.m.
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The same bunch that are predicting endless hardship due to the photo id requirement are also the ones that predicted mounds of bodies in the street due to concealed carry.
Feb 21, 2012 at 10:26 a.m.
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It did take like 2 seconds more to show ID and sign name.
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