GREEN BAY, Wis. — It’s a year like nothing we’ve ever seen — and the election will likely be no different.
That has city leaders in Green Bay urging residents to have a plan as the presidential election looms in less than three weeks.
“We are encouraging all of our voters here in Green Bay - and really all across the United States — to make a plan to vote,” said Celestine Jeffreys, Green Bay’s chief of staff
That includes making sure you have things like a photo ID, knowing your polling place, and paying attention to key dates and deadlines for various types of voting.
And for those voting by mail, Jeffreys said, make sure you send your ballot in two weeks before the election — that’s Monday.
The city has assembled all that information in a multi-language voter guide.
Maryanne Dainsberg is among thousands of registered voters. In Green Bay who requested an absentee ballot. She cast her vote in one of the city’s secure drop boxes Tuesday afternoon.
“Having the drop off boxes is good,” she said. “We were a bit hesitant to send it through the mail, so we thought It would be safer just to bring it to the City Hall drop box.”
There are half a dozen of the drop boxes around the city.
“The City of Green Bay is absolutely ready for your vote and ready for the votes of citizens in this community,” Mayor Eric Genrich said during a press conference. “(We’re) encouraging all of our citizens, all of our eligible voters, to get ready as well.”
With the anticipation of a heavy voter turnout — and a high number of absentee votes — people should also be prepared for results that may move a little slower than past elections.
“Patience is going to be the sentiment of November, to be honest,” Jeffreys said. ”We will be working diligently, we will be working efficiently, and we will be working accurately on Election Day and thereafter to get that vote count to our populace.”
Dainsberg, along with the nation, will be watching.
“I’m glad it’s done. I’m glad my vote is going to be counted,” she said. “We’ll wait to see what the results are.”