Wisconsin election officials brace for massive observer turnout next week

Wisconsin election staff prepare for a complex voting day as observer groups plan to deploy watchers at poll sites next week. After a july test-run that caused major slow-downs‚ officials dont expect things to be easy

The summer incident in milwaukee-area showed what might happen: observers made non-stop challenges to mail-in ballots causing 90-minute delays (while workers tried to handle various objections about speaking volume and ink marks on papers)

Harry Wait and Jefferson Davis — leaders of two grass-roots organizations — say theyre organizing about 1‚500 poll-watchers across the state. The Republican party has trained 5‚000 more observers; meanwhile democrats are getting ready with their own volunteer force

Local authorities are taking extra safety steps this time: undercover officers will be inside some locations and streets near voting places will be closed. “Its absolutely needed after what we saw in summer“ says Bryan Kennedy glendaleʼs mayor who had to call police to remove some observers that day

The state has unique rules for watchers — they dont need party affiliation or special training which makes officials nervous about next week. George Christenson milwaukee county clerk explains: “Weʼll have law-enforcement ready to respond if things get out-of-hand“

The very nature of elections is adversarial

Poll-watchers will focus on five hot-spots including:
* Milwaukee area
* Madison region
* Other key voting districts

Security teams are getting ready for possible delays since observers can stand very close to poll workers and challenge every mail-in vote. Ann Jacobs elections commission chair notes: “When someone stands right next to you writing down names — thats intimidating“