By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com
Races on the April 4 general election ballot include Justice of the Supreme Court and Whitewater Unified School District School Board Member, City of Whitewater Common Council (three uncontested races), and City of Whitewater Municipal Judge. In Jefferson County there is also an uncontested race for Circuit Court Judge Branch 4. The towns also have races for Supervisor. You may view your ballot here by entering your home address.
On March 11 The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area hosted a forum for the Whitewater Unified School District candidates. More than 50 people were in attendance. All six candidates: Thayer Coburn (incumbent), Joe Kromholz, Lisa Huempfner, Stephanie Hicks, Chuck Mills, and Christy Linse participated in this event. The video may be viewed here, thanks to Whitewater Community TV. The questions asked were pulled from those submitted by the audience. Some of these included, would you support a dual language program in schools, how would you work to make sure all students are accepted and supported, will you support a future referendum, and how do you plan to address low ACT scores and below proficient scores in math and reading? A total of six questions were asked during the 90-minute forum. You may vote for up to three candidates.
The League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area is hosting a municipal judge forum on Sunday, March 19 at 1 p.m. in the Municipal Building Community Room, 312 W. Whitewater Street. When the video is available a link will be provided here.
The school board and municipal judge candidates all responded to an online questionnaire sponsored by the League of Women Voters – Whitewater Area. The responses, as well as those of the Supreme Court candidates, may be viewed here after entering your home address.
All six candidates for the school board responded to a questionnaire from the Whitewater Banner prior to the primary election. Their responses may be read here.
In addition to the races shown above, there are three referendum questions on the ballot:
State of Wisconsin Conditions of Release Before Conviction Referendum – Question 1
QUESTION 1: “Conditions of release before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose on an accused person being released before conviction conditions that are designed to protect the community from serious harm?”
Yes
No
State of Wisconsin Cash Bail Before Conviction Referendum – Question 2
QUESTION 2: “Cash bail before conviction. Shall section 8 (2) of article I of the constitution be amended to allow a court to impose cash bail on a person accused of a violent crime based on the totality of the circumstances, including the accused’s previous convictions for a violent crime, the probability that the accused will fail to appear, the need to protect the community from serious harm and prevent witness intimidation, and potential affirmative defenses?”
Yes
No
State of Wisconsin Welfare Benefits Referendum – Question 3
QUESTION 3: “Shall able-bodied, childless adults be required to look for work in order to receive taxpayer-funded welfare benefits?”
Yes
No
OBTAINING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
Any qualified elector who is unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place on Election Day may submit a request to vote an absentee ballot to their municipal clerk. A qualified elector is any U.S. citizen who:
- will be 18 years of age or older on Election Day.
- has resided in the ward or municipality where they wish to vote for at least 28 consecutive days before the election.
The elector must also be registered to vote to receive an absentee ballot. Proof of identification must be provided before an absentee ballot may be issued*.
Making application to receive an absentee ballot by mail
Contact your municipal clerk and request that an application for an absentee ballot be sent to you for the primary or election or both. You may make written application to your municipal clerk for an absentee ballot in person, by mail, by fax, by email or at MyVote.wi.gov.
Your written request must include:
- your voting address within the municipality where you wish to vote
- the address where the absentee ballot should be sent, if different from the address above
- your signature
- a copy of your photo identification*
The deadline for making application to receive an absentee ballot by mail is:
5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 2023
*Voters who are indefinitely confined due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability may not be required to provide photo ID. If this applies to you, contact the municipal clerk regarding deadlines for requesting and submitting an absentee ballot.
**Special absentee voting application provisions apply to electors who are indefinitely confined, in the military, hospitalized, or serving as a sequestered juror. If this applies to you, contact the municipal clerk regarding deadlines for requesting and submitting an absentee ballot.
Voting an absentee ballot in person
You may also request and vote an absentee ballot in the clerk’s office or other specified location during the days and hours specified for casting an absentee ballot in person. Absentee in-person voting begins as early as March 21.
CITY OF WHITEWATER
Michele R. Smith, Clerk
312 W. Whitewater St.
Whitewater, WI 53190
(Phone) 262 473-0102
Voting Hours: M-F
8:00 – 4:30 p.m.
TOWN OF COLD SPRING
Lisa Griep, Clerk
W3497 Vannoy Rd.
Whitewater, WI I 53190
(262) 473-6228
Absentee Hours by Appt.
TOWN OF LAGRANGE
Crystal Hoffmann, Clerk
P.O. Box 359
Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 495-8200
Absentee Hours by Appt.
TOWN OF LIMA
Pam Hookstead, Clerk
11053 Willow Drive
Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 473-8515
Absentee Hours by Appt.
TOWN OF RICHMOND
Brian Hayes, Clerk
W9046 County Road A
Delavan, WI 53115
(608) 883-2269 or 608-312-9674
Absentee Hours by Appt.
TOWN OF WHITEWATER
Jorja Boiley, Clerk
W8590 Willis Ray Road
Whitewater, WI 53190
(262) 473-4639
Early, in-person voting: Town of Whitewater – Tuesday, March 21 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM; Thursday, March 23 4:00 – 7:00 PM; Saturday March 25 9:00 – Noon
Public testing for voting machine: Saturday, March 25 at Noon
Please remember if you are voting absentee, ballots must be either mailed to the Town Hall or dropped off during normal Town Hall hours: M, T, Th 8:30 AM – 1:30 PM. Use of the drop box is prohibited.
new email: clerk.treas@townofwhitewaterwi.gov
new website: townofwhitewaterwi.gov“
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The first day to vote an absentee ballot in the clerk’s office is: Wednesday, March 21, 2023.
The last day to vote an absentee ballot in the clerk’s office is: Friday, March 31, 2023.
No in-person absentee voting may occur on the day before the election. The municipal clerk will deliver voted ballots returned on or before Election Day to the proper polling place before the polls close on April 4, 2023. Any ballots received after the polls close will not be counted.
