>>> 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 THAT 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
RESIDENTS 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
REQUESTING 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
RECOMMENDATION 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 REGISTERED 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 THINK 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 THINK, 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, THE 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
WISCONSIN, 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
NONDRIVERS.
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 ACCEPTABLE 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"
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