1,351 residents get ballots in before spring primary

More than 1,300 city residents cast ballots during early voting in the spring primary election, Milwaukee election officials say.

Early voting, which began Feb. 1 and ended Friday, drew a total of 1,351 people, said Neil Albrecht, executive director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission.

The primary is set for Tuesday, with polling places open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.

The primary ballot includes the mayoral race, with Mayor Tom Barrett facing three challengers, Alds. Joe Davis and Bob Donovan as well as political newcomer James Methu, and seven of the 15 Common Council races. It also includes races for the state Supreme Court and Milwaukee County executive.

The top two finishers in each primary will advance to the April 5 election.

Albrecht has said the city doesn’t typically see this much interest in early voting for a spring primary.

The surge in early voting also came amid a push from former Ald. Michael McGee, who served time in prison after being convicted of taking bribes and other crimes. McGee, who celebrated getting his voting rights back by casting a ballot at City Hall on the first day of early voting, also announced that he was starting a new “We Built This City” movement.

Despite the apparent surge of interest in early voting, there’s also been some confusion about it because the state’s voter ID law took full effect this year after the last of a string of lawsuits was resolved. Wisconsin residents are now required to show photo identification at the polls.

State election officials have launched a voter education campaign, complete with a bringit.wisconsin.gov website and a toll-free number, (866) VOTE-WIS. People can also check out myvote.wisconsin.gov to find out whether they are registered to vote, where to vote and what will be on the ballot.

There are some exceptions to the photo ID requirement, such as for absentee voters who are active-duty military or who have difficulty getting to the polls because of age, illness, infirmity or disability.

Wisconsin’s voter ID measure was passed in 2011 but was in place for just one previous election — a low-turnout primary in February 2012 — before it was blocked by a judge. The law remained blocked as four challenges to the law — two in state court and two in federal court — were considered.