MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS) -- A big ask from the mayor of Wisconsin's largest city for the upcoming spring election.  

In a virtual press conference Tuesday Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett made the case for the spring election to be held using mail ballots.  "Rather than cancelling the election or postponing the election what we would do is modify the election process."

That request was sent in a letter to the governor and legislative leaders.   Barrett doesn't believe any in-person voting is safe.  "I would not advise someone I love to go sit in the polling place for 10,12 hours and come into contact with dozens if not hundreds of people," the mayor said.

He pointed out the risk is also too high for poll workers.   Something the Executive Director of Milwaukee's Election Commission chimed in on.  Neil Albrecht, also part of the news conference, said, "we owe those election workers an assurance of safety."

Albrecht commented the "Safer at Home" order issued this week had a huge impact on his workforce.  "Many are declining and our election workforce is dwindling by the day, by the hour."

He doesn't believe they have enough people to run polling places, but Albrecht said the city is prepared to accommodate absentee voting.  A process the mayor feels would get people to participate.   "We know we could get up 130,000 people voting absentee. We need to be able to put our focus on that right now."

According to Barrett, a vote by mail election would require extending the voting period beyond April 7 to get ballots out and returned.

In response to the mayor's request Governor Evers would only say "in-person voting is still being discussed for April 7."

If you do want to vote absentee the deadline to request ballots online or by mail is April 2nd. Get a ballot here. 

Here is the full letter: