IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
211236
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. JOHNSON
Title
Resolution affirming the Common Council’s stance that every eligible citizen has the right to vote.
Analysis
This resolution affirms the Common Council’s stance that all eligible citizens, including nursing home residents under quarantine, have the right to vote.
Body
Whereas, The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for voting officials; and
Whereas, During 2020, nursing homes were placed under strict quarantines that severely curtailed entry to all but the most-essential of personnel; and
Whereas, The guidelines issued by the Wisconsin Elections Commission were compassionate, common sense solutions to an unprecedented public health crisis, that were discussed and voted on entirely in public meetings, without any objection from lawmakers, and were voted for by Democrat and Republican commissioners alike; and
Whereas, To date, no evidence has been presented that any nursing home residents were coerced into voting or that any eldercare workers, who selflessly exposed themselves daily to the risk of infection, acted in anything but good faith to assist residents in carrying out their most-sacred right as citizens; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council affirms its stance that every eligible citizen, regardless of age, health status or confinement, has the right to vote; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council calls on the State Legislature to work with the Wisconsin Elections Commission to enact legislation protecting the right of nursing home residents to vote even during times of unprecedented disruption; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward a copy of this resolution to each member of Milwaukee’s delegation to the State Legislature.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 177099-1
Christopher H. Hillard
11/15/2021