The COVID-19, or novel coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc across the country causing a massive economic and political fallout and leaving millions without jobs or financial security. In the midst of this giant public health crisis, Wisconsin decided to go on with their presidential primary elections for the 2020 Presidential race despite an overwhelming blowback of criticism from residents who were concerned about going out to the polling booths due to health concerns.
Despite local and federal health officials’ warnings to Americans to practice social distancing and to avoid public gatherings of more than 10 people, Wisconsin polling locations saw a large turnout of voters waiting in long lines to cast their ballot.
Former first lady Michelle Obama has come out to speak against the state for the move. She shared her opinions on her Twitter page citing the current political climate in Wisconsin and how the state needed to do better by their citizens to ensure that the voting process puts no one in danger, especially during a public health pandemic.
According to the New York Times, as many as 15 other states and one U.S. territory have postponed their state primary elections to the summer months in response to the viral outbreak. In Milwaukee, only 5 out of 180 polling places were open on Tuesday with 1,282,762 people reported to request absentee ballots that were never received.
An executive order was issued to postpone Wisconsin’s primary election by Gov. Tony Evers but was overturned on Monday (April 6) by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.