Wisconsin National Guard To Be Called Out For Aug. 11 Primary

MILWAUKEE, WI — The Wisconsin National Guard will be called out again to serve as poll workers for the Aug. 11 primary elections across Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday. The move comes days after the Wisconsin Election Commission said the state is more than 900 poll workers short for election day.

“The Wisconsin National Guard has played a critical role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic and this mission is no different,” said Gov. Evers in a statement Wednesday. “Time and time again the Guard has stepped up to help their neighbors, friends, and communities, as they will be doing on election day by helping to ensure that every Wisconsinite can vote safely without fear for their health.”

Evers has yet to say how many Wisconsin National Guard members will be mobilized to active duty in the coming days to support the Wisconsin Elections Commission and clerks across the state.

The Guard is working with the Wisconsin Elections Commission to determine how many Guard members would be available to support and fulfill requests from local elections officials, he said.

The troops will report to duty on Sunday to complete necessary training and begin receiving assignments, state officials said.

They’ll report to clerks on Monday to receive site-specific training and assist with polling place setup, before fulfilling the role of traditional poll workers on Tuesday during the election. The troops will be released from duty Aug. 12.

The Wisconsin Election Commission has been surveying municipal clerks for the past month about their poll worker needs, state officials said. As of Aug. 4, clerks have identified serious or critical shortages of 938 poll workers in 153 municipalities.

“We know there are Wisconsinites looking for ways to serve their communities through this difficult time,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief elections official. “If you are a state, county or municipal employee, a teacher, a student or someone who is looking for temporary work, municipal clerks need you to step up and help right now.”

Guard Assisted During Spring Election

The Wisconsin National Guard has played a key role in Wisconsin’s last two elections.

During the state’s general election April 7, more than 2,400 Wisconsin Guard members mobilized in the same role and supported 71 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. At the time, municipalities across Wisconsin struggled under the strain of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wisconsin municipal clerks grappled with heightened safety protocols and urgent staff shortages, resulting in massive polling place consolidations across the state.

During the May 11 special election in the state’s 7th Congressional District, another 160 served as poll workers.