Number
001829
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BOHL
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Department of Administration – Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of state legislation permitting cities of the first class to establish the minimum number of poll workers required in each electoral ward.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration – Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of legislation permitting cities of the first class to set their own minimum staffing levels for wards on days when elections are held. At present, cities that use voting machines may station no fewer than 5 election inspectors in each ward. This resolution also expresses the City's intent not to deviate from these minimum staffing requirements in presidential, gubernatorial and aldermanic elections as well as elections where the voter turnout is expected to be greater than 20 percent.
Body
Whereas, Cities in the State of Wisconsin that use machines to create and tally voted ballots are bound by s. 7.30(1), Wis. Stats., to station no fewer than 5 election inspectors in each ward; and
Whereas, With improvements in technology including on-line registration, machine-readable ballots and electronic voting, the number of people required to staff a polling place efficiently is decreasing; and
Whereas, Voter turn-out can vary widely from election to election, in a pattern predictable by local election officials, further altering the number of workers needed at each polling place; and
Whereas, Having too many workers at polling places costs the City of Milwaukee money that could be put to other uses including improving voting technology and increasing the compensation paid to those who work at the polls; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Intergovernmental Relations Division – Department of Admi...
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