Madison voters ask judge to ensure the counting of ballots collected at 'Democracy in the Park' even
MADISON - Five voters asked a judge Wednesday to rule that absentee ballots Madison poll workers are collecting in more than 200 parks will be counted.
Madison on Saturday held its first "Democracy in the Park" event, despite accusations from Republicans that the program was improper. The city plans to do the same again this Saturday.
Five supporters of the plan on Wednesday asked Dane County Circuit Judge Mario White to declare the event a valid way for voters to return their completed absentee ballots.
City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl scheduled the events to help deal with a flood of absentee ballots that voters have requested because of the coronavirus pandemic. The city hasn't yet installed ballot drop boxes and some voters are reluctant to return their absentee ballots by mail because of slowdowns with the U.S. Postal Service, Witzel-Behl said last week.
Late last week, an attorney for Republican lawmakers raised objections to the events, claimed they were illegal and argued absentee ballots submitted at them could be invalidated. The voters who brought Wednesday's lawsuit dispute those claims and want the judge to assure voters that their absentee ballots will be counted.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/09/30/voters-ask-judge-back-madisons-democracy-park-events/5873721002/
