UPDATE: City Clerk Michele Smith indicates that as of 4:00 p.m. a grand total of 1048 ballots have been cast all day, including all absentee ballots. The poll workers spent the whole day, from 7:30 a.m. until nearly 4 p.m. processing the absentee ballots.

The August 11 partisan primary has only one contested race for city of Whitewater residents: Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District. Polls will be open at the Downtown Armory, 146 W. North Street, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Turnout is expected to be light, especially in view of the unusually high number of absentee ballots that have already been cast. City Clerk Michele Smith reports that as of 6:00 p.m. on August 7, 762 absentee ballots had been returned out of the 1286 that were issued. By comparison, the August 2018 partisan primary included the gubernatorial office, and there were only 306 absentee ballots and a total of 1381 votes, including absentees.

Due to the unusual circumstances in the April 2020 primary, a court ordered that ballots that were postmarked by election day were to be counted. This exception is not in effect for this election. If you still hold one of the 524 ballots that were not yet returned, these are the only options you have in order for your vote to be counted:

• Deliver your ballot to the City Clerk at the Armory before 8 p.m. TODAY.

Same day registration is permitted, assuming that you will have lived in the city for at least 28 days. You must present an acceptable photo ID (generally a drivers license or VOTER ID) and acceptable proof of residency.