% >>> WELCOME TO "NOON WEDNESDAY,"
% I'M MARISA WOJCIK, MULTIMEDIA
% JOURNALIST FOR "HERE & NOW" ON
% PBS WISCONSIN, AND TODAY IS
% NOVEMBER 3.
% FOLLOWING A PRESS CONFERENCE
% FROM THE RACINE SHERIFF COUNTY'S
% OFFICE LAST WEEK, ADVOCATES IN
% THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY ARE
% EXPRESSING CONCERNS WITH SOME OF
% THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THE
% SHERIFF AND AN INVESTIGATOR
% ASSERTING ELECTION FRAUD IN
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.
% BARBARA BECKERT OF DISABILITY
% RIGHTS WISCONSIN JOINS ME NOW TO
% TALK ABOUT THE CONCERNS, AND,
% BARBARA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
% BEING HERE.
% >> THANK YOU, MARISSA.
% >> I FIRST WANT TO LAY THIS OUT
% PIECE BY PIECE BECAUSE THERE WAS
% A LOT COVERED IN THIS PRESS
% CONFERENCE IN ADDITION TO THE%
FACT THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF
% ONGOING ELECTION INVESTIGATIONS
% HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
% SO AT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE,
% FIRST WAS A COMPLAINT FROM THE
% FAMILY MEMBER OF AN ELDERLY
% WOMAN WHO PASSED AWAY THAT HER
% DECEASED MOTHER'S ABSENTEE
% BALLOT WAS SUBMITTED AFTER HER
% DEATH, AND THEN AFTER THAT,
% PROMPTED A SHERIFF'S OFFICE
% INVESTIGATION.
% OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OF
% RESIDENTS FROM THE SAME CARE
% FACILITY ARE ALLEGING THEIR
% LOVED ONES DID NOT HAVE THE
% COGNITIVE ABILITY TO VOTE, AND
% THAT FACILITY STAFF MEMBERS
% COULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
% THEM TO HELP THEM CAST BALLOTS,
% AND THAT ALL OF THIS WAS
% POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE WISCONSIN
% ELECTION COMMISSION MADE A
% TEMPORARY DECISION TO SUSPEND
% SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES OR
% SPDs, WHICH GO INTO LONG-TERM
% CARE FACILITIES BY LAW TO ASSIST
% IN THE VOTING PROCESS.
% TIMELY, THE INVESTIGATOR ALLEGED
% THEY BROKE THE LAW BY SUSPENDING
% SPDs BY GOING INTO FACILITIES
% OFFERING VOTING ASSISTANCE AND
% BY ONLY ALLOWING ABSENTEE
% BALLOTS, AND THEY SPECULATE THAT
% VOTER FRAUD TOOK PLACE IN OTHER
% FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
% SO THAT'S A LOT.
% I JUST WANT TO FIRST ASK, WHAT
% WAS YOUR REACTION TO THE PRESS
% CONFERENCE FROM THE RACINE
% COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAST
% WEEK?%>> YEAH.
% MY REACTION WAS REALLY TWO-FOLD.
% FIRSTFUL ALL -- FIRST OF ALL, IF
% ANY TYPE OF COERCION,
% INAPPROPRIATE COERCION OR
% PRESSURE ON INDIVIDUALS IN CARE
% FACILITIES OR IN THE COMMUNITY
% ON HOW TO VOTE HAS OCCURRED,
% THAT IS CERTAINLY A CONCERN, AND
% THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED, AND
% IF IT OCCURRED, THOSE
% INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE
% PROSECUTED.
% HOWEVER, WE ALSO WERE VERY
% CONCERNED THAT BASED ON THE
% INFORMATION THAT WAS
% COMMUNICATED, THAT THERE SEEMS%
TO BE A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT
% THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN
% CARE FACILITIES TO VOTE AS WELL
% AS THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WITH
% COGNITIVE DISABILITIES, SO
% PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN NURSING HOMES
% OR A GROUP HOME, AND PEOPLE WITH
% COGNITIVE DISABILITIES HAVE THE
% RIGHT TO VOTE UNLESS THEY HAVE
% LOST THAT RIGHT BECAUSE OF THE
% DECISION BY A JUDGE, AND THAT
% DID NOT APPEAR TO BE THE CASE.
% EXCEPT FOR ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO
% HAD BEEN FOUND INCOMPETENT, AND,
% YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THAT MAY
% HAVE BEEN AN ERROR ON THE PART
% OF THE CLERK IF THAT INDIVIDUAL
% WAS SENT AN ABSENTEE BALLOT.
% >> WHO ARE THE SPECIAL VOTING
% DEPUTIES?
% WHAT ARE THEY REQUIRED TO DO BY
% LAW, AND WAS IT HARMFUL TO
% VOTERS THAT ARE IN LONG-TERM
% CARE FACILITIES TO NOT ALLOW
% THESE SPDs TO ASSIST IN THE
% VOTING PROCESS IN 2020?
% >> IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT
% PEOPLE IN CARE FACILITIES HAVE
% THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
% ELECTORAL PROCESS, AND
% RECOGNIZING THAT WISCONSIN HAS
% SET UP THIS SPECIAL VOTING
% DEPUTY PROCESS TO PROVIDE
% SUPPORT FOR THOSE VOTERS, AND
% THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
% SHREKSELECTED BY THE MUNICIPAL ,
% POLL WORKERS, MAYBE A SENIOR
% POLL WORKER WHO HAS HAD A LOT OF
% EXPERIENCE, AND THEY CONDUCT
% IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING IN
% CARE FACILITIES THAT ARE
% ELIGIBLE FOR THE PROGRAM.
% SO IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE, YOU
% NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST FIVE
% INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE REGISTERED
% TO VOTE, AT LEAST ONE ABSENTEE
% BALLOT REQUEST ON FILE, AND AT
% LEAST TEN RESIDENTS IN THE
% FACILITY.%SO IN ORDER FOR TH
AT TO HAPPEN,
% IT REALLY REQUIRES THE CARE
% FACILITY STAFF TO HAVE SOME KIND
% OF A ROLE IN SUPPORTING THEIR
% RESIDENTS WITH VOTING, BECAUSE,
% OTHERWISE, THEY MAY NOT BE
% REGISTERED TO VOTE OR HAVE
% SUBMITTED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
% APPLICATION REQUEST SO I THINK%
THAT'S ONE THING THERE'S
% CONFUSION ABOUT.
% HISTORICALLY, THERE IS A ROLE,
% AN IMPORTANT ONE, FOR CARE
% FACILITY STAFF.
% THOSE SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES,
% WHEN THEY COME, THEY GENERALLY
% WORK IN TEAMS.
% THEY COME INTO A FACILITY, AND
% WISCONSIN LAW REQUIRES THAT WHEN
% SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES COME TO
% THE FACILITY, THAT THERE MUST BE
% ELECTION OBSERVERS FROM EACH
% PARTY WHO COME WITH THEM, AND
% THE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ALSO
% ALLOWED TO OBSERVE THE PROCESS
% SO IT IS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND
% THEY COME TO DIFFERENT VISITS,
% AND THOSE VISITS NEED TO BE
% SCHEDULED DURING A VERY SET
% PERIOD OF TIME, AND THERE NEEDS
% TO BE A FIVE-DAY ADVANCED
% NOTICE, AND A MINIMUM OF TWO
% VISITS.
% IF ANY RESIDENTS DON'T VOTE
% DURING THE TIME THAT THE SPDs
% ARE ON THE SITE, AND THAT'S NOT
% AN UNUSUAL THING, THEN THEY ARE
% TO BE SENT THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT
% JUST LIKE ANY OTHER VOTER AFTER
% THE SPDs HAVE VOTED.
% SO THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN THE
% OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN CARE
% FACILITIES TO VOTE OUTSIDE OF
% THE SPD PROCESS, AND THAT IS
% ADDRESSED IN THE STATUTES.
% THE WISCONSIN ELECTION
% COMMISSION FACED A REALLY TOUGH
% DECISION THIS YEAR.
% WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO ADDRESS
% SOME OF THE SPECIAL CHALLENGES
% DURING THE PANDEMIC?
% >> WELL, WERE THESE SPDs --
% WAS THE VOTING PROCESS HARMED BY
% NOT ALLOWING THEM INTO SPECIAL
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES?
% WAS THERE POTENTIAL HARM DONE TO
% THE VOTERS, AND ARE SPDs
% TYPICALLY, EVEN THOUGH REQUIRED
% BY LAW, ARE THEY IN EVERY SINGLE
% CARE FACILITY IN WISCONSIN IN
% EVERY ELECTION?
% >> SO IN TERMS OF WHETHER HARM
% WAS DONE, YOU KNOW, I THINK
% POLICYMAKERS HAD AN EXTREMELY
% DIFFICULT CHOICE TO MAKE HERE.%
THEY WERE BALANCING THE RIGHT TO
% VOTE AND HONESTLY THE RIGHT TO
% LIFE BECAUSE INDIVIDUALS IN CARE
% FACILITIES ARE THE MOST
% VULNERABLE POPULATION AT HIGH
% RISK OF CONTRACTING COVID AND OF
% DYING FROM IT OR SUFFERING
% SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, SO THAT'S
% WHY FACILITIES WERE LOCKED DOWN,
% AND SO EVEN IF SPECIAL VOTING
% DEPUTIES HAD BEEN DISPATCHED, IT
% IS UNLIKELY, IN MOST CASES, THAT
% THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO
% ENTER THE FACILITY, SO THE
% CONCERN WAS IF WE WENT THROUGH
% THIS PROCESS AS A STATE, SPDs
% SENT OUT TWICE AND WERE NOT
% ALLOWED TO ENTER, WE WOULD HAVE
% LOST TIME, TIME THAT WAS NEEDED
% TO GET THE BALLOTS OUT TO THE
% CARE FACILITY RESIDENTS FOR THEM
% TO COMPLETE THEM AND RETURN
% THEM, AND AS YOU KNOW, THE SLOW
% PERFORMANCE OF THE U.S. MAIL WAS
% ANOTHER FACTOR DURING THE 2020
% ELECTION.
% AFTER MANY HOURS OF PUBLIC
% MEETINGS, A LOT OF AGONIZING,
% INPUT FROM HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND
% INPUT FROM ADVOCACY GROUPS LIKE
% DISABILITY RIGHTS GROUP
% WISCONSIN, THERE WAS ALMOST
% COMPLETE CONSENSUS THAT THE SAFE
% THING TO DO AND THAT THE RIGHT
% THING TO DO FROM A PERSPECTIVE
% OF UPHOLDING THE VOTING RIGHTS
% OF RESIDENTS WAS TO NOT SEND IN
% THE SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES, BUT
% INSTEAD, TO FOLLOW THE STATUTORY
% PROCESS FOR HAVING INDIVIDUALS
% VOTE USING THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOT
% APPLICATIONS.%>> COULD THESE
CARE FACILITIES'
% STAFF MEMBERS, THEMSELVES, BEEN
% DEPUTIZED TO HELP THESE
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY%RESI
DENTS IN THE VOTING PROCESS
% TO TRAIN THEM AND TO HAVE THEM
% TAKE AN OATH AND KIND OF OF
% REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING
% ADVANTAGE OF CARE FACILITY
% RESIDENTS?
% >> THERE CURRENTLY IS NO
% STATUTORY PROCESS THAT WOULD
% ALLOW FOR THAT.
% WHAT WAS DONE IS THAT VERY
% DETAILED DIRECTIONS WERE
% PROVIDED TO CARE FACILITIES
% ACROSS THE STAFF.
% WE TALKED ABOUT THE ROLE OF CARE
% FACILITIES, WHAT STAFF ARE
% ALLOWED TO DO TO ASSIST A
% RESIDENT, IF REQUESTED, AS
% DIRECTED BY THE RESIDENT, WITH
% COMPLETING THEIR BALLOT, WITH
% REGISTERING TO VOTE, WITH
% REQUESTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT,
% AND NOT IN ANY WAY TO INFLUENCE
% OR DIRECT HOW THEY VOTE.
% IN ADDITION, A NUMBER OF
% TRAININGS WERE OFFERED.
% AS TO WHETHER IN THE FUTURE, YOU
% KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE AN OPTION TO
% DEPUTIZE CARE FACILITY STAFF IN
% THE ABSENCE OF SPECIAL VOTING
% DEPUTIES, I THINK IT IS
% CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
% I'M VERY MUCH AN ADVOCATE FOR
% PROVIDING TRAINING FOR THEM, AND
% I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME
% PROMISING IDEAS.
% I KNOW SENATOR VENEER IS VERY
% INTERESTED IN THIS, AND WE ARE
% VERY SUPPORTIVE OF TRAINING.
% VOTING IS COMPLEX.
% YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A
% CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE
% PROCESS, AND OF THE ROLES, AND
% OF THE ACCOMMODATIONS PEOPLE ARE
% ENTITLED TO, INCLUDING HAVING
% ASSISTANCE WITH COMPLETING THEIR
% BALLOT AS DIRECTED BY THE VOTER.
% WHETHER GIVEN THE WORK FORCE
% CRISIS IN OUR CARE FACILITIES,
% ASKING THEM ALSO TO TAKE ON THE
% ROLE OF BEING DEPUTIZED TO
% PROVIDE IN-PERSON ABSENTEE
% VOTING ON A LONG-TERM BASIS IS
% THE WAY TO GO, I'M NOT CERTAIN.
% YOU KNOW, MY HOPE IS THAT THE
% SPECIAL VOTING DEPUTIES WILL BE
% ABLE TO RETURN IN THE FUTURE AND
% THE CARE FACILITY WILL PLAY AN
% IMPORTANT ROLE, STILL, IN
% SUPPORTING THEIR RESIDENTS,
% BECAUSE, AGAIN, IF PEOPLE ARE
% NOT REGISTERED TO VOTE, IF THEY
% HAVE NOT REQUESTED AN ABSENTEE
% BALLOT APPLICATION, THAN SPDs
% WILL NOT BE COMING.
% MOST SPDs ARE NOT ABLE TO
% REGISTER VOTERS WHEN THEY COME
% TO THE FACILITY.%I'D ACTUALLY
LIKE TO SEE THE LAW
% CHANGED SO THAT THEY DO HAVE THE
% AUTHORITY TO REGISTER VOTERS,
% AND THAT THEY CAN DO THAT RIGHT
% UP TO THE ELECTION JUST AS
% MUNICIPAL CLERKS CAN DO.
% >> BACKING UP A LITTLE BIT,
% BECAUSE AN INVESTIGATOR IN THE
% RACINE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
% REALLY REITERATED HOW THESE CARE
% RESIDENTS WERE NOT OF A MIND TO
% BE VOTING, THESE FAMILY MEMBERS
% ARE ALLEGING THAT THEIR LOVED
% ONES DID NOT HAVE THE COGNITIVE
% ABILITY OR FUNCTION TO
% UNDERSTAND THEY WERE FILLING OUT
% A BALLOT TO VOTE IN THE 2020
% ELECTION.
% DO FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE THE
% ABILITY TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT
% THEY THINK THEIR LOVED ONES
% SHOULD VOTE OR WHETHER OR NOT
% THEY THINK THEIR LOVED ONE HAS
% THE COGNITIVE ABILITIED TO X,
% Y -- ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO X,
% Y, OR Z?
% >> THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THERE'S
% A LOT OF SENSITIVITY.
% FAMILY MEMBERS, UNDERSTANDABLY,
% LOVE THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE
% CARE FACILITY, AND THEY ARE
% PROTECTIVE, BUT THE OPINION OF A
% CARE PROVIDER, A FAMILY MEMBER,
% A FRIEND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON
% ABOUT THE COMPETENCY OF THEIR
% FAMILY MEMBER SHOULD NOT BE
% ALLOWED TO PREVENT THEIR FAMILY
% MEMBER FROM VOTING.
% THAT IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER OUR
% LAW.
% SOMEONE IS ONLY GOING TO BE
% PREVENTED FROM VOTING IF A JUDGE
% HAS FOUND THEM INCOMPETENT.
% IF A FAMILY MEMBER HAS SERIOUS
% CONCERN AND ARE NOT THE
% GUARDIAN, THE FAMILY MEMBER HAS
% NOT BEEN FOUND INCOMPETENT, THE
% FAMILY MEMBER DOES NOT HAVE THE
% AUTHORITY UNDER WISCONSIN LAW TO
% PREVENT THAT PERSON FROM VOTING,
% NOR SHOULD THEY.
% TAKING AWAY THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS
% A VERY SERIOUS THING.
% WE OFTEN FIND PEOPLE THINK A
% PARTICULAR MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR
% DISABILITY, HAVING AN
% INTELLECTUAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL
% DISABILITY OR HAVING ALZHEIMER'S
% OR PARKINSONS THAT THAT IN AND
% OF ITSELF DISQUALIFIES SOMEONE
% FROM VOTING, AND THAT IS NOT THE
% CASE.
% >> AND, SO, WHERE THIS
% INVESTIGATION OUT OF MT.
% PLEASANT KIND OF STARTS TO GET
% MORE INTO THE AREA OF
% MISCONDUCT, AND THIS WAS ALSO
% SPOKEN TO BY SENATOR KATHLEEN
% WITH LAST WEEK CHAIRING THE
% ELECTIONS COMMITTEE AND IS
% CONCERNED THAT FACILITY STAFF
% MEMBERS COULD HAVE BEEN%REQU
ESTING BALLOTS ON RESIDENTS'
% BEHALF, AND ESSENTIALLY HAVING
% MORE INPUT OVER THE VOTERS'
% CANDIDATE CHOICES THAN THEY
% SHOULD INFLUENCING THEM OR
% POTENTIALLY COERCING THEM.
% BOTH SHE AND BOB SPINDELL OF THE
% WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
% ALLEGED HISTORICAL VOTING FRAUD
% IN NURSING HOMES, PARTICULARLY
% LARGER MUNICIPALITIES LIKE
% MILWAUKEE.%DO YOU THINK THIS
KIND OF VOTER
% COERCION IS HAPPENING IN
% LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES WHERE
% STAFF MEMBERS COULD BE KIND OF
% HOISTING BALLOTS UPON PEOPLE WHO
% MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE ACTUALLY BE
% VOTING.
% THEY SAID THAT IN 2020, MORE
% BALLOTS WERE REQUESTED, FAR MORE
% THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, WHICH IS
% WHY THEY THINK SOME SORT OF
% MISCONDUCT WAS OCCURRING.
% >> WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, IF
% ANY MISCONDUCT OR COERCION ARE
% OCCURRING, YOU KNOW, AS ADVOC
% ADVOCATES FOR PEOPLE WITH
% DISABILITIES, WE ARE VERY
% CONCERNED ABOUT THAT AND THINK
% THAT SHOULD BE DEALT WITH
% THROUGH OUR LEGAL SYSTEM, AND I
% HOPE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IN THE
% CASE OF THE RACINE SITUATION IF
% THERE'S INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTED IN
% A WAY THAT IS ILLEGAL, THEN THEY
% SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.
% I'M A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE IT
% DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE DIRECTION
% IN WHICH THAT IS GOING.
% IN TERMS OF ANY KIND OF
% WIDESPREAD FRAUD OR COERCION,
% JUST BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCE,
% WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF
% TRAININGS ON VOTING PROCESS AND
% PROCEDURES FOR CARE FACILITY
% PROVIDERS, AND IN MY EXPERIENCE,
% IT'S BEEN THAT THEY ARE VERY
% ANXIOUS TO DO THE RIGHT THING,
% TO UNDERSTAND THE LAW, TO
% UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY CAN AND
% CANNOT DO, AND, ACTUALLY, MY
% FEAR IS THAT IN THE CURRENT
% ENVIRONMENT THAT WE ARE GOING TO
% SEE ANY PEOPLE POTENTIALLY BE
% DISENFRANCHISED.
% WE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.
% OUR STATE IS AGING.
% WE ALL HOPE TO BECOME OLDER
% ADULTS SOME DAY, AND WE HAVE A
% VESTED INTEREST IN PROTECTING
% OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
% I RECEIVED CALLS FROM A NUMBER
% OF CARE FACILITY PROVIDERS WHO
% ARE SCARED NOW TO ASSIST
% RESIDENTS WHEN THEY ASK FOR
% ASSISTANCE WITH VOTING.
% FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE
% APRIL 2021 ELECTION, I RECEIVED
% A CALL FROM A CARE PROVIDER
% STAFF.
% SHE HAD A RESIDENT WHO WAS
% VOTING ABSENTEE.
% HE NEEDED SOMEONE TO WITNESS HIS
% BALLOT.
% SHE WAS AFRAID BECAUSE THERE'S
% BEEN SO MUCH MEDIA COVERAGE
% ABOUT CARE FACILITY STAFF DOING%
THINGS THAT ARE ILLEGAL.
% SHE WAS VERY FEARFUL TO WITNESS
% HIS BALLOT.
% YOU KNOW, I DID EXPLAIN TO HER
% THAT THAT WAS APPROPRIATE, AND
% THAT IF SHE WAS ASSISTING HIM
% WITH THE BALLOT, WHICH IT TURNED
% OUT SHE HAD NOT, THAT SHE NEEDED
% TO SIGN AS AN ASSISTER, BUT ALL
% SHE NEEDED TO DO WAS WITNESS THE
% BALLOT, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE
% ANYONE ELSE TO DO IT.
% I'M NOT SURE THAT SHE ULTIMATELY
% DID IT BECAUSE SHE WAS SO
% FEARFUL.
% WE HEARD FROM OTHER STAFF ABOUT
% HOW THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED BY
% ANGRY FAMILIES AND THREATENED
% WITH LAWSUITS AND LITIGATION.
% THEY HAVE TOUGH JOBS.
% THEY ARE SHORT-STAFFED.
% IF THEY DO NOT ASSIST THEIR
% RESIDENTS WITH FILLING OUT AN
% APPLICATION TO REGISTER TO VOTE,
% WITH REQUESTING AN ABSENTEE
% BALLOT, THEIR FACILITY MAY NOT
% EVEN BE QUALIFIED FOR SPECIAL
% VOTING DEPUTIES TO VISIT, SO,
% AGAIN, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
% THE TONE OF THIS, AND THAT CARE
% FACILITY RESIDENTS MAY BE
% DISENFRANCHISED, AND THAT
% INCLUDES YOUNGER PEOPLE WITH
% DISABILITY AS WELL AS OLDER
% ADULTS.
% >> AND THE SHERIFF SAID LAST
% WEEK, QUOTE, WE WOULD BE FOOLISH
% TO THINK THAT THIS HAPPENED AT
% ONE CARE FACILITY IN ONE COUNTY
% IN THE STATE, END QUOTE, BUT DID
% NOT PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL
% INFORMATION SHOWING THAT THIS
% HAD OCCURRED ELSEWHERE.
% WHAT, IF ANY, ARE UNINTENDED
% CONSEQUENCES OR IMPLICATIONS OF
% SPECULATING VOTER FRAUD IS
% OCCURRING IN CARE FACILITIES ALL
% ACROSS THE STATE?
% >> I THINK THE IMPLICATIONS ARE
% VERY CONCERNING TO US.
% I THINK WHAT THE STATEMENTS THAT
% WE HAVE HEARD POTENTIALLY COULD
% CONTRIBUTE TO AN ENVIRONMENT IN
% WHICH WE SEE VOTERS WITH
% DISABILITIES, IN CARE FACILITIES
% AS WELL AS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND
% OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCE
% DISCRIMINATION AND GREATER
% BARRIERS TO VOTING.
% I THINK THAT WE REALLY NEED TO
% TAKE DOWN THE TEMPERATURE HERE
% AND HAVE A CONSTRUCTIVE
% CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW IN
% WISCONSIN WE CAN DO MORE TO
% ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH
% DISABILITIES, OLDER ADULTS, AND
% OTHERS HAVE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE
% SUPPORTED AND TO MAKE OUR
% ELECTIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND
% INCLUSIVE.
% IF THERE WERE MORE VOTES THIS
% YEAR, PERHAPS IT IS BECAUSE ALL
% OF THE CARE FACILITIES RECEIVED
% DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW
% THEIR RESIDENTS COULD BE
% ASSISTED WITH REGISTERING TO
% VOTE AND WITH REQUESTING AN
% ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION.
% MY PREFERENCE AND OUR%RECOMM
ENDATION AS AN AGENCY
% WOULD BE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A
% STANDARD PROCEDURE.
% IT SHOULD BE PART OF THE INTAKE
% WHEN SOMEONE MOVES INTO A CARE
% FACILITY.
% THEY ARE MOVING.
% SO THERE SHOULD BE A
% CONVERSATION.%ARE YOU REGIST
ERED TO VOTE?
% DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO VOTE?
% DO YOU NEED TO UPDATE YOUR
% REGISTRATION TO CHANGE YOUR
% ADDRESS SINCE YOU'RE LIVING HERE
% NOW, AND YOU PROBABLY WON'T BE
% ABLE TO GO TO YOUR POLLING
% PLACE.
% WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMPLETE AN
% APPLICATION FOR AN ABSENTEE
% BALLOT?
% SO CARE FACILITIES ACROSS OUR
% STATE RECEIVED INFORMATION ABOUT
% HOW TO DO THAT.
% THEY ALL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO
% PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING.
% I'M NOT SURE THAT THAT'S
% HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
% SO HAVING MORE PEOPLE HAVE THE
% OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, I THINK, IS
% ALSO A VERY POSITIVE THING, AND
% IT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD
% COMMEND THE EFFORT PUT IN DURING
% A WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC TO ENSURE
% THAT OUR OLDER ADULTS AND PEOPLE
% WITH DISABILITIES WERE NOT
% DISENFRANCHISED.%>> DO YOU TH
INK THAT THERE IS A
% POTENTIAL OF ELECTION LAW
% CHANGES TO THINGS LIKE SPECIAL
% VOTING DEPUTIES, VOTING BY
% ABSENTEE BALLOT, OR INDEFINITELY
% CONFINE VOTERS?%>> WELL, I T
HINK, AGAIN, THAT
% THERE ARE MANY OPPORTUNITIES
% HERE, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE A
% NUMBER OF POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
% THAT WE'VE HAD VERY GOOD
% DISCUSSION WITH SOME
% POLICYMAKERS, INCLUDING SENATOR
% BERNEER ABOUT, AND WOULD WELCOME
% THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THOSE
% MOVE FORWARD.%FOR EXAMPLE, T
HE CURRENT SPECIAL
% VOTING DEPUTY SYSTEM, WE BELIEVE
% HAS A NUMBER OF GAPS.
% WE DID SOME ANALYSIS ABOUT THE
% NUMBER OF CARE FACILITIES IN THE
% STATE.
% I'M JUST LOOKING AT SOME DATA
% HERE, AND IN 2016, THERE WERE --
% LET'S SEE -- RELATIVELY SMALL
% NUMBER OF CARE FACILITY
% RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE
% PROGRAM.
% APPROXIMATELY 21,000.
% WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF
% BEDS IN OUR STATE, IT IS OVER
% 87,000.
% YEAH.
% THAT SEEMS, TO ME, LIKE WE HAVE
% A GAP THERE.
% THERE'S AN EQUITY GAP.
% THERE ARE MANY CARE FACILITY
% RESIDENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO VOTE
% AND ARE NOT GETTING THE
% OPPORTUNITY.
% SO OUR MUNICIPAL CLERKS HAVE
% TOUGH JOBS.
% ONE THING I THINK MIGHT HELP
% THEM OUT IS IF THE DEPARTMENT OF
% HEALTH SERVICES RECEIVED SOME
% FUNDING AND HAD THE
% RESPONSIBILITY FOR SENDING THEM
% A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF ALL OF
% THE LICENSED CARE FACILITIES IN
% THE COMMUNITY.
% YOU KNOW, THEY MAY KNOW ABOUT
% THE BIG NURSING HOMES, BUT THEY
% MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SMALLER GROUP
% HOME, AND THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF
% YOUNGER PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
% LIVE.
% WE OFTEN HEAR THOSE INDIVIDUALS
% ARE DISENFRANCHISED AND DO NOT
% HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE.
% IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF THE SPD
% PROGRAM WOULD VISIT MORE
% FACILITIES.
% THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF
% OPPORTUNITIES, AND I HAVE A
% WHOLE LIST I WANT TO SHARE WITH
% OUR LEGISLATORS.
% >> WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND TO
% SOMEONE WATCHING THIS WHO HAS A
% DISABILITY AND IS TRYING TO
% NAVIGATE THE LAWS AND RULES AND
% TRYING TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT
% ELECTION?%>> YEAH.
% WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE'D WELCOME
% THE CHANCE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE
% TO THEM.
% THROUGH DISABILITY RIGHTS%WI
SCONSIN, WE HAVE A VOTER
% HOTLINE.
% WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE 365 DAYS A
% YEAR.
% IT IS NOT ONLY AT ELECTION TIME.
% IT REALLY CAN REQUIRE SOME
% PLANNING BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE
% WITH DISABILITIES ARE%NONDRI
VERS.
% THERE'S A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE
% OF PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE A
% DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND WISCONSIN
% HAS ONE OF THE MOST RESTRICTIVE
% PHOTO ID LAWS IN THE COUNTRY.
% PEOPLE ARE OFTEN TAKE FOR
% GRANTED THAT EVERYONE HAS PHOTO
% ID, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IS
% NOT THE CASE, AND GETTING TO THE
% DMV TO GET A PHOTO ID FOR VOTING
% CAN BE A DAUNTING CHALLENGE FOR
% PEOPLE WHO ARE NONDRIVERS.
% THEY MAY REQUIRE ACCESSIBLE
% TRANSPORTATION.
% MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE
% PAPERWORK THAT THEY NEED, THE
% BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND SO ON, TO
% GET THAT PHOTO ID.
% WE HAVE IN OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
% SOME SUGGESTIONS ABOUT EXPANDING
% REQUIREMENTS FOR PHOTO ID TO BE
% LESS RESTRICTIVE.
% BUT THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF THE
% TYPE OF PREPARATION THAT SOMEONE
% MIGHT DO.
% YOU KNOW, WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE,
% MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE.
% GO TO MYVOTE WISCONSIN AND SEE
% IF YOU ARE REGISTERED NOW.
% AND, IF NOT, AND YOU NEED A
% HAND, GIVE US A CALL, AND WE'LL
% BE HAPPY TO ASSIST YOU WITH
% THAT?%DO YOU HAVE AN ACCEPTA
BLE PHOTO
% ID FOR VOTING?
% IF NOT, CONTACT US, AND WE'LL DO
% OUR BEST TO ASSIST WITH THAT AS
% WELL.
% KNOW THERE MAY BE A LOT OF
% BARRIERS WE WON'T BE ABLE TO
% HELP OVERCOME BECAUSE OF THE
% SHORTAGE OF TRANSPORTATION.%
>> ALL RIGHT.
% WELL, WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE,
% BARBARA BECKERT OF DISABILITY
% RIGHTS WISCONSIN, THANK YOU SO
% MUCH FOR JOINING US.
% >> THANK YOU, MARISSA.
% >> FOR MORE FROM "HERE & NOW"
% AND PBS WISCONSIN, YOU CAN VISIT
% PBSWISCONSIN.ORG/NEWS, AND THANK%
YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON
% "NOON WEDNESDAY."