GREEN BAY, Wis. — For the past few weeks, municipal officials around Wisconsin have been putting the final touches on their plans for Tuesday’s elections.
From a closed street to emergency planning, security is one of the top Election Day matters in Green Bay. It’s a focus for City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys and other city officials in the lead up to Tuesday.
“My clerk world is a world where security is paramount. In talking with other clerks here in Brown County and across the United States, other clerks are taking these very similar measures,” she said. “For instance, in LA, they have a helipad at their tabulation facility. That’s how secure it is.”
Among changes people can expect in Green Bay is the closure of Jefferson Street outside city hall to secure both the building and central counting.
Bushes have also been removed from in front of city hall; police officers will be onsite at that location.
“Our police department and our Green Bay Metro Fire Department are also very much aware of where our polling locations are and how to get in touch with each chief inspector at that ward,” Jeffreys said.
City clerk staff publicly tested ballot tabulation machines last week as part of preparations.
Tim Lewis, a chief inspector in one of Green Bay’s wards, was one of a handful of public observers. He attended the testing to see what happens after the ballots leave the polling place.
“I do have some concerns about possible disruptions and confrontations in the polling place, because we’ve had a few very minor ones in the past,” Lewis said. “As you all know, the tension is rising. That’s my main concern — just keeping an orderly, calm and peaceful voting process.”
He has confidence in the equipment and the people working the election.
“I have great faith in the people here and the machinery,” he said. “I have no doubts that it’s all accurate, impartial and complete.”
As part of planning, poll workers have been trained in situational awareness, while election officials and staff were part of a tabletop exercise covering Election Day security scenarios with a federal cyber and infrastructure security agency.
Clerk staff have also participated in training with the Green Bay Metro Fire Department to identify suspicious mail and handle potential hazardous substances.
“This is what we do. This is what’s important to keep people safe and give people confidence that we’re keeping them safe and that we’re keeping our election materials safe,” Jefferys said. “There are many election materials, not just ballots, not just [data] sticks. We’re keeping those things safe so we can report accurate, complete results.”
