Voters line up on Memorial Day to cast absentee ballots

MILWAUKEE -- In a political first for the city of Milwaukee, voters had a chance to take to the polls on a holiday (Memorial Day) on Monday, May 28th, and many lined up to cast their ballot in the recall election.

Nakida Humphrey helped people move from vans to the ballot box Monday. It was a ride especially meaningful for those with a disability, or needing some extra help.

"It can be difficult if you don't have transportation," one voter said.

Rides to the city of Milwaukee's Zeidler Municipal Building for absentee voting were provided by Wisconsin Jobs Now - a group billing themselves as a non-partisan organization.

Republicans say the transportation to the polls is on the left side of the political spectrum.

Some believe higher voter turnout in places like Milwaukee would benefit Milwaukee's Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor, Tom Barrett over incumbent Gov. Scott Walker.

"Groups like that, you see the president's Organizing for America, you see MoveOn.org, you see all these liberal special interest groups out there - many of them driven by Washington," Gov. Walker said.

"What I was saying yesterday in the churches is (Gov. Walker) has mountains and mountains of money, and my hope is we'll have lines and lines of people," Barrett said.

Wisconsin Jobs Now officials say they are not telling people who to vote for, but simply providing a means for people to cast a ballot. The transportation assistance is playing a role in higher than anticipated numbers of in-person absentee voters.

The Milwaukee County Election Commission said voters lined up starting at 9:00 a.m. Monday, and they saw a steady line of voters throughout the day.

Elections officials say they believe the number of absentee voters will continue to rise.

In-person absentee voting ends at 5:00 p.m. the Friday before the election (June 1st). Those mailing in absentee ballots must have them postmarked by election day (June 5th).

CLICK HERE for more information on absentee voting in the city of Milwaukee.

CLICK HERE for more information on voting and the recall election via the GAB's website.

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