BREAKING: Wisconsin's @GovEvers suspends in-person voting for Tuesday's election over coronavirus concerns.
Start the betting now on how soon a legal challenge will come.
Here's the governor's order: content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WI…
.@GovEvers: “Today, I signed an executive order suspending in-person voting for tomorrow’s election. Frankly, there’s no good answer to this problem—I wish it were easy. ..."
"I have been asking everyone to do their part to help keep our families, our neighbors, and our communities safe, and I had hoped that the Legislature would do its part—just as the rest of us are—to help keep people healthy and safe. ..."
“But as municipalities are consolidating polling locations, and absent legislative or court action, I cannot in good conscience stand by and do nothing. The bottom line is that I have an obligation to keep people safe, and that’s why I signed this executive order today.”
Under Evers' plan, ballots that have already been cast will be counted.
People will be able to continue to vote absentee until June.
In-person voting will be held June 9 unless the Legislature and governor agree to a different date.
People will be able to continue to vote absentee until June.
In-person voting will be held June 9 unless the Legislature and governor agree to a different date.
In addition, Evers has called lawmakers into (another) special session at 2 p.m. Tuesday to pass legislation on this issue.
Evers is arguing he has the power to suspend voting even without legislative action -- a position he has not previously held.
Evers is arguing he has the power to suspend voting even without legislative action -- a position he has not previously held.
He is also extending the terms of office of local officials who are on the ballot. Many of their terms expire in April. Evers is keeping them in office until after the new election date.
Here's the first take on this developing story from @MollyBeck and me. Check back frequently -- it will be updated throughout the day.
bit.ly/2Va3t1F
bit.ly/2Va3t1F
NEW: @SpeakerVos and @SenFitzgerald say GOP lawmakers will challenge Evers' suspension of voting in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
“The clerks of this state should stand ready to proceed with the election. The governor’s executive order is clearly an unconstitutional overreach."
“The clerks of this state should stand ready to proceed with the election. The governor’s executive order is clearly an unconstitutional overreach."
“This is another last minute flip-flop from the governor on the April 7th election," Vos and Fitzgerald say.
"The governor himself has repeatedly acknowledged he can’t move the election. Just last week a federal judge said he did not have the power to cancel the election and Governor Evers doesn’t either. Governor Evers can’t unilaterally run the state" -- @repvos and @SenFitzgerald.
The state Elections Commission is telling clerks to continue to prepare for voting tomorrow because it doesn't know what might come of litigation.
"I know too much has already been asked of you, but we ask you to proceed with your Election Day preparations as we do not know the outcome of any possible litigation and we need to be prepared if the election is held tomorrow," @WI_Elections' Meagan Wolfe wrote in a memo.
The @WI_Elections memo is here: elections.wi.gov/node/6821
The state Elections Commission has called an emergency meeting for 3:30 p.m. today.
The commission consists of three Democrats and three Republicans.
elections.wi.gov/node/6820
The commission consists of three Democrats and three Republicans.
elections.wi.gov/node/6820
Lawmakers have now filed their original action with the state Supreme Court to try to require in-person voting on Tuesday.
They tell the court that it should act without holding oral arguments and say it does not need to formally publish its decision "given that the legal questions presented are straightforward and settled."
.@JusticeDanKelly, who is on the ballot, has recused himself from the case.
That reduces the court's conservative majority from 5-2 to 4-2.
That reduces the court's conservative majority from 5-2 to 4-2.
Kelly opposes delaying the election. More here:
The (latest) emergency meeting of @WI_Elections -- there have been a lot of them lately -- will begin shortly via Zoom:
elections.wi.gov/node/6820
elections.wi.gov/node/6820
Statement from spokesman for @judgekarofsky, who is challenging @JusticeDanKelly:
"The health and safety of every Wisconsinite should be our top priority right now and we have a responsibility to listen to health professionals. ..."
"The health and safety of every Wisconsinite should be our top priority right now and we have a responsibility to listen to health professionals. ..."
Karofsky spokesman, con't: "Ultimately, the governor, legislature, and the courts will decide when in-person voting will take place. ...."
Karofsky spokesman, con't: "Regardless of their decision, we are prepared to continue an aggressive campaign that shows why Judge Jill Karofsky is the experienced and independent choice for the Wisconsin Supreme Court."
Chairman of the Elections Commission, @deanknudson, says he believes @GovEvers' emergency powers expire on May 11.
He notes the next day is a special election for Congress in northern Wisconsin. Evers has not ordered any changes to that election.
He notes the next day is a special election for Congress in northern Wisconsin. Evers has not ordered any changes to that election.
If there is not enough litigation over Wisconsin's election for you ... there is a hearing happening right now in another matter in federal court in Milwaukee.
So, what we have:
-- original action in Wisconsin Supreme Court to overturn Evers' order suspending the election
-- hearing in federal court in Milwaukee to (separately) postpone the election
-- waiting to hear from SCOTUS re absentee ballots from a case out of Madison
-- original action in Wisconsin Supreme Court to overturn Evers' order suspending the election
-- hearing in federal court in Milwaukee to (separately) postpone the election
-- waiting to hear from SCOTUS re absentee ballots from a case out of Madison
"So, we have three different courts having a look at this."
That's how @WI_Elections Commissioner Bob Spindell put it.
And, he adds: "Tomorrow's coming pretty quickly."
That's how @WI_Elections Commissioner Bob Spindell put it.
And, he adds: "Tomorrow's coming pretty quickly."
The Milwaukee case is being heard by U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper.
The lawsuit was brought by @SenTaylor, who is running for Milwaukee mayor.
The lawsuit was brought by @SenTaylor, who is running for Milwaukee mayor.
The chairman, @deanknudson, says voters are in danger of getting "whiplash" because of the fast-changing status of the election.
Personal note: I have whiplash, and I'm pretty much living and breathing this stuff by the second.
And here's @GovEvers' response to the lawsuit pending in state Supreme Court:
documentcloud.org/documents/6826…
documentcloud.org/documents/6826…
The governor in this case is represented by AG @JoshKaulWI, a fellow Democrat.
The latest in the @SenTaylor case, per a summary provided by @WI_Elections:
The judge said if Evers' order is upheld, Taylor's case will be moot (because she will have gotten what she wanted - a postponed election).
The judge said if Evers' order is upheld, Taylor's case will be moot (because she will have gotten what she wanted - a postponed election).
And if the state Supreme Court reinstates the election, then Taylor's case will be live and the judge will have to consider her request for a postponement.
.@WI_Elections is adjourned.
But they'll probably be back later tonight (perhaps very late) once the commissioners know more about what the courts are doing.
But they'll probably be back later tonight (perhaps very late) once the commissioners know more about what the courts are doing.
.@GovEvers: "Tomorrow in Wisconsin, thousands will wake up and have to choose between exercising their right to vote and staying healthy and safe. ..."
.@GovEvers, con't: "In this time of historic crisis, it is a shame that two branches of government in this state chose to pass the buck instead of taking responsibility for the health and safety of the people we were elected to serve."
The SCOTUS ruling is here, via @rickhasen's Election Law Blog: electionlawblog.org/wp-content/upl…
