Madison: Absentee Ballots Arriving Earlier for Dane County Voters
Wisconsin Eagle/10331986

~ As the April 7 election approaches, voters in Dane County can expect to receive their absentee ballots earlier than in previous years. This is thanks to a new contract between the county and WPS Data Logistics, which will allow municipal clerks to access absentee ballots more than a week earlier than last year's Spring election.

Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell announced this positive news at a press conference on March 6 at WPS headquarters. He emphasized the importance of this change for voters, as it allows more time for their absentee ballot to arrive at their local clerk's office. For example, City of Madison voters will now receive their absentee ballot a full week sooner.

McDonell expressed his gratitude towards WPS for providing faster service and saving taxpayers around $100,000 compared to previous contracts. He also urged voters not to wait until the last minute to complete and return their ballots, as the U.S. Postal Service's delivery of mail has been slower in recent years.

Unlike other states, Wisconsin has a strict deadline for accepting absentee ballots - they must arrive by Election Day. To ensure that overseas and military voters have enough time to receive and return their ballots, clerks must mail them by March 17. With this new printing contract in place, many local municipal clerks are expected to mail out absentee ballots a week earlier than usual.

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City of Madison Clerk Lydia McComas also spoke about the benefits of working with WPS. In addition to printing absentee ballots, they are now able to print poll books closer to Election Day. This not only improves accuracy but also reduces administrative burden on chief inspectors.

McComas expressed her excitement about the additional time for absentee ballots, stating that it strengthens the safeguards and policies implemented by the Clerk's Office to ensure every eligible ballot is counted regardless of how a voter chooses to vote.

WPS has been a major employer in Dane County for decades and its Data Logistics division has a long history of handling and printing sensitive information protected by federal privacy laws. Andrew McCready, vice president of WPS Data Logistics, emphasized their commitment to delivering materials that voters can trust. He also highlighted their experience in secure government printing and the strict controls and processes they follow to protect the integrity of every ballot and poll book.

As the election draws near, Dane County voters can rest assured that their absentee ballots will be handled with care and efficiency thanks to this new partnership between the county and WPS Data Logistics. With more time for ballots to arrive at clerks' offices, every vote will have a better chance of being counted.

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