Central Wisconsin voters could outpace state
"Election officials are prepared for high voter turnouts for the primary election.
In the first hour polls were open Tuesday, more than 200 people had voted at Mead Elementary School in Wisconsin Rapids.
"We had a line at 7 O'clock," said Ramona Lubeck, chief election inspector at the site.
People were patient and considerate of each other during the first rush, Lubeck said. People seemed to understand how important the election is and wanted to get in and vote before lines became longer later in the day, she said.
Lubeck expected a lot of voters Tuesday and she said election workers are prepared for a large turnout. There also is a large number of absentee ballots for the election, Lubeck said.
Wood County has 2,193 absentee ballots, according to the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. Portage County has 2,553 absentee ballots and Marathon County has 3,908. The ones turned in will be counted after the polls close Tuesday evening.
With a compelling mayoral race and provocative presidential primary on the ballot, early morning voting on Wausau's southeast side was similarly brisk. As of 7:50 a.m., 125 people had cast their ballots at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, the polling place for Wausau's Districts 1 and 2.
About 25 people were lined up at the door at 7 a.m. when the poll opened, said Tanya Pagel, a chief inspector at the site. “We’ve had a steady flow since then,” Pagel said. “People want to get their votes in before going to work.”
Election officials expected a turnout in excess of 60 percent of registered voters in Wausau.
That’s about the same number of expected voters in Marshfield: City Clerk Deb Hall said she was hoping for a turnout between 60 and 65 percent of eligible voters — more than the expected statewide average of 40 percent.
“We tend to be a little bit higher than the state,” Hall said"
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/2016/04/05/voting-off-quick-start/82644460/
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