Wisc. gov seeks to delay vote

The Democratic governor of Wisconsin is making a last-minute push to delay the state’s controversial election, but Republicans want it to go ahead as planned on Tuesday despite the coronavirus crisis.

Gov. Tony Evers summoned lawmakers to a Saturday special session to consider emergency action to put off the vote amid a state stay-at-home order and a national pandemic.

Evers (inset) wants the election delayed till mid-May. He called for all voters to get an absentee ballot mailed to them and for polling places to be open only for disabled voters.

Republican leaders of the heavily gerrymandered state legislature reportedly plan to reject the call to postpone the election. GOP officials across the country are fretting that making absentee voting easier could juice turnout and help Democrats.

A federal judge Thursday called on the state to delay the election but ruled he does not have the legal authority to do so.

The swing state’s chaotic plans for the election put a harsh spotlight on the huge problems created by the pandemic, which has killed 31 people in Wisconsin.

With election workers refusing to serve in droves, Wisconsin plans to have just five polling places open in the entire city of Milwaukee on Tuesday, where up to 50,000 voters are expected. It usually has 180.

It’s unclear why Evers waited until so close to election day to call for action. He earlier suggested the vote could go ahead as planned with social distancing measures and other health precautions.

Wisconsin is the only state that has not delayed its elections since the last three states voted in primaries on March 17.

Voters in the Badger state were expected to cast ballots in a Democratic presidential primary between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders as well as a contentious election for a key spot on the state’s supreme court.