Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 22, in Wisconsin

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Long lines are expected Monday morning in at least some of Wisconsin’s larger cities as early voting begins for the Nov. 6 elections.

About 22 percent of Wisconsinites voted early in the last presidential contest in 2008, using the absentee process. In Milwaukee, about 9,000 people have applied for absentee ballots, about the same number as in ’08.

Kevin Kennedy of the state Government Accountability Board and Neil Albrecht of Milwaukee’s Election Commission also predict large numbers of observers to watch the absentee voting process. It could create some tight quarters in some places. Officials are reminding observers to give voters their space.

In-person voting continues through Nov. 2, the Friday before Election Day.

Voters can also ask for absentee ballots by mail. The municipal clerks must receive those requests by the end of the day on Thursday, Nov. 1.

Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day. The clerks have to get them by the Friday after the elections.

Clerks will also be busy registering new voters in the 15 days before Election Day. Voters can begin the process by going online to MyVoteWI.Gov, which is run by the Government Accountability Board.

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