GREEN BAY, Wis — (NBC 26) -- Across Green Bay, there are nearly 60-thousand registered voters. But during the continued spread of COVID 19 only two polling places were open on Tuesday, city-wide.
"The long line was worth it. It's three hours yes, but it was worth it from the beginning to end," says Valerie Routhieaux who cast her vote on Tuesday morning.
Stretched across the East Green Bay High School campus the importance of this election could be gauged by the number of people showing up, which easily surpassed several hundred at any given time. But what makes the gathering of concern to some, is the fact that 2,511 people have contracted COVID 19 in Wisconsin contributing to 85 deaths so far.
Deb Uphill Lisch, who was casting her vote on Tuesday, says she's disappointed in Wisconsin state leaders who seem to be putting political agendas before the health concerns of people statewide.
"I'm just appalled by this because we are supposed to be in our homes and yes at a safe distance away. But this is one way to spread that virus and I think it's shameful."
Some voters in line say they're absentee ballots never made it to them and they were left with an option of not voting in this election at all or putting their health at risk.
"In spite of the risk of COVID 19 to myself, my family, and spreading it in the community, I wanted to make sure that my vote counted," adds Jim Koehler who spent three hours in line to cast his vote.
Everyone has a reason why they showed up to the polls, despite President Trump's or the CDC's warning about mingling in crowds.
"It's overkill. I feel like everything is fine. We just gotta drudge through this," said voter Alexzandra Batts.
"I think the coronavirus is being blown out of proportion. I have no qualms whatsoever," adds Richard Sants.
Many in the voting line can't help but think of the potential consequences, of Wisconsin being the only state in the country right now willing to have an in-person election site during the pandemic.
"There's some older people I think who are possibly going to be paying the consequences of this, which I think is sad," says Brian VandeHei.
In a statement Wednesday morning, Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich said:
"Yesterday’s election was an incredibly difficult one for those who voted in-person and for those who administered it. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for bearing a heavy burden during a frightening and dangerous time. The several hour wait times we witnessed were devastating to watch and much more difficult to experience, I’m sure.
There are some who question the decisions we made in staffing only two polling locations in a city of our size. I want to stress that this was not an option we chose eagerly. In fact, it was our last resort. Our contingency plan, once first realizing a significant decline in available poll workers, involved the use of our four high school gyms. That number fell to two locations as the number of experienced and trained poll workers fell further. We had the option of bringing inexperienced individuals into the process, but our city clerk and I did not feel comfortable implicating untrained city employees, members of the public, or members of the National Guard in a dangerous and stressful environment.
From the onset of this pandemic, I have tried to make every single decision with this community’s health as the absolute priority. I rang every alarm bell at my disposal to prevent yesterday’s election from occurring in-person, for fear of how it would endanger those who participated. I understand the frustration people feel about yesterday’s election, and I share it 1000%, but please know that we made every effort to keep the community safe, in the face of our obligation to hold a mass gathering in the midst of a pandemic.
Thank you again to the voters of this city, our heroic poll workers, our city clerk staff, and our clerk. What they experienced yesterday and in the days preceding was unacceptable and unnecessary, and it is something I hope none of us is ever in the position of enduring again."
