KGUN 9News

Actions

Green Bay clerk refused to open early voting site at university over fear of helping Democrats

City clerk refused Univ. Wisconsin-Green Bay site
Posted at 8:50 AM, Oct 25, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-25 15:07:42-04
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Newly released emails show Green Bay's city clerk refused to set up an early voting site on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay campus in partly because she feared the site would help Democrats.
 
One Wisconsin Institute, a liberal advocacy group, obtained emails from City Clerk Kris Teske that show state Rep. Eric Genrich, a Green Bay Democrat, was pressing her in August to open an early voting site on the campus. Teske refused, citing budget constraints, ballot security and staffing issues.
 
She also pointed to statutes that prohibit early voting sites that give a political party an advantage. She wrote she had heard students lean more toward Democrats and Genrich is a Democrat.
 
The Nation first reported on the emails Tuesday. Teske declined comment when reached by The Associated Press.