Why the city cancelled return visits for absentee voting at area nursing home

Metro Wire Staff

STEVENS POINT – The Stevens Point city clerk’s office has canceled a scheduled return visit to Willow Brooke Point on March 20, according to emails sent on March 14.

The cancellations affect visits originally planned for residents on Lilac Lane and Bluebell Lane.

When asked about the change, the clerk’s office cited state law requiring two attempts to present ballots to voters with active absentee requests at facilities visited by Special Voting Deputies. However, the law also mandates at least five days’ advance notice for such visits, prompting officials to schedule both visits ahead of time.

“In this case, however, we were able to reach all the voters for whom we had active requests on file on our first visit, rendering the second visit unnecessary,” said Franc Kipar, elections and licensing specialist.

The decision aligns with Wisconsin statutes 6.87(6) and 7.515(3), which govern absentee ballot procedures and Special Voting Deputy visits, Kipar said.