Welcome everyone to midday magazine for this March 8th 2024. You have your host James J.
Mailoff here in part one. We're going to speak with our friends thanks to our friends at the
Visit Wisconsin Rapids Bureau. We'll have Michael Barnes in. We'll talk a little bit about the Wisconsin
Rapids winter farmers market at the Moravian Church and some other great things going on in town.
Right now we have with us our good friend Trent Minor Wood County clerk. We're going to talk about the April
2nd elections. Get into some details about that. Trent, good to see you. Nice seeing you. It's been a while.
Appreciate you sir. No problem. Want to say right out the gate we greatly appreciate you and your
team and all you guys do for our community and helping us keep democracy alive. In no small words
we appreciate that and so many of our election workers out there. You have your back and we
appreciate you. Trent I want to get into a little bit of you know what's on the ballot this time
around. Let's start right there. Yeah on the ballot this time probably at the top of the ballot is
going to be the presidential preference primary. You are willing to allow to vote in one party. Mr.
President Biden is on the ballot first along with a challenger him and then you have the Republican
primary. Now all those Republicans there's only one left but they're still on the ballot. The
reason you see those on the ballot is because they didn't petition the elections commission in time
to say no I'm no longer a candidate. I don't want to be on the ballot so it's not my fault if you
don't let you see people you don't want to see on that ballot that are no longer running there
there is a legal process that they have to go through to get off that ballot. I don't think that's
common knowledge and I appreciate sharing that. That's really interesting. It is kind of it's kind
of cool. When we were just ready to start printing the ballots there's a deadline for petitioning
and Governor Hutchison has to decide it. No I'm not running anymore and he had dropped out a quarter
a while ago. He did petition and the commission accepted his petition and sold his name is in the
ballot but the rest of them are so that's going to be right off the top of the ballot. Then we get
into you know there isn't a Supreme Court race this time so that's off the ballot. There's
Court of Appeals and then we get into really our local judge Brazo is up for re-election this time
in Circuit Court branch two and then we get into the mayors and the towns you know some towns
school boards there's some hot races out there too so lots of local stuff this time plus the
presidential preference. Yeah Trent when it comes to if people maybe they haven't been able
to do their homework or maybe this is coming up a little bit a sudden to them or something.
Is there a place to go to kind of find out what's on the ballot and to research those topics?
Absolutely. To see what's on your ballot you can go to myvote.wi.gov is a fantastic website
that you punch in your address or your name or your birthday and boom it comes up you can see
what's on your ballot you'll have to wait until 21 days prior to because they're still working on
getting all that imported in but yeah all those in all that information is on the ballot then you
can do your research based off of that you see who's running and who you like. Is there any
has there been or is there any opportunity here for mail-in voting or any other types of ways to
vote? Absolutely. So there is certainly absentee voting another play that myvote website is a
perfect place to go to request an absentee ballot. Couldn't think of the word absentee I'm
going to be honest with you in the audience it wouldn't pop in my head. I apologize. No problem.
So absentee voting the clerks are in possession of the ballots right now I actually delivered
them yesterday and they're picking up from our office today as well. So those absentee ballots
will be ready to go and go to myvote.wi.gov again to request your absentee ballot if you are
registered you can request it from there. The absentee envelopes look a little bit different
this time. The Elections Commission voted this last summer to change those up a little bit.
To me they're easier to read. The old ones had really really really small prints on it and now they've
made three different envelopes to kind of expand out what the different processes are. I would
just remind the listeners that if you do vote absentee please fill out all the information that's
required of you. We don't want to have to reject your ballot at the polls we hate doing that.
Clerks will jump through flaming hoops of fire to ensure that we are able to count your ballot
but only if those required things on the absentee ballot envelope are signed and filled in
properly. So anything that's highlighted on the envelope please make sure it's filled in correctly.
Is there a deadline for absentee ballot? absentee ballots have to be back in the clerk's office
no later than 8 p.m. on election day. We don't have late arriving absentee ballots anymore
so everything has to be returned by then. You can request it up until the Thursday prior to
the election which is going to be looking at your calendar on the wall March 28th. You have to
request it but we all know the mail isn't as quick as it once was so the sooner the better if
you're going to do it by mail. Each clerk does provide in-person absentee voting. The City of
Rappers will be starting that up in the next week. Next week about the 19th they'll be able to
start that up so keep an eye out on the newspaper and on their websites for those opportunities as
well. And as far as people finding out about different things on there like let's get into
redistricting a little bit because that is certainly going to make things a little different from
the last time people voted. Yeah the redistricting will actually take effect in this November
election. So in Wood County things change quite dramatically especially up in the Marshall area.
We used to be represented in the entire county by four assembly districts and let's say about
three senate districts. We're now down to two assembly districts and two senate districts. So
if you take a line from Jackson County on our west and run it straight across from the Town of
Hiles all the way through Town of Dexter, Town of Cranmore, Seneca and then kind of shoot north
rapids up to Burin, a straight line across. That's going to be the 72nd. Everything south of
that's going to be the 72nd assembly district. Currently represented by Representative Krueg.
Everything north of that is going to be the 86 assembly district which is currently represented
by Representative Spiro, Sodom Archfield. So there are some, just a lot of changes in what it comes
to that. So you're going to have some different people on your ballots this fall. So far that is
what's going to happen. Courts have a way of changing things but I think we're pretty well finalized
now. Yeah. This was a Supreme Court and then the legislature acted. So I think we're at the final,
the final maps right now. With that do well people have different polling places than in years past
in some of these areas? Should not. It didn't affect any of our awards thank goodness and some counties
it did and they're going to have to go through a redistricting process again. Fortunately for us
everything's going to be able to remain the same which there isn't a municipal clerk that is saying
you hooray for that including me that everything's going to be able to remain the same. You're going
to vote the same locations. You're voting in the same awards that you have been the last year now.
So yeah as far as if it had to change for Wood County this was not a this was a pretty good change
because not so much. Yeah it didn't didn't affect where you're voting or any awards or anything.
Speaking of that though Trent one of the you mentioned the the amazing website my vote
wi.gov and again encourage people to bookmark that you could always use it and it's always
noteworthy and helpful no matter what election season we are in. So I just wanted to do this
for the audience sake and everything for those that may not know where they're voting or if
you're curious about your polling place because they've got some great links on here one fine
my polling place so I just pulled that up and right as we are getting ready to do our interview
today I threw in my my parents address and I see that oh I see where we're located I see where
where it is to vote pops up right away it's such a great website it's such an amazing job and
even if you it you know let's be honest sometimes you not everybody votes every election cycle
and everything it may be it's been a little while you need to refresher um this is a great website
for that absolutely great way to be able to find out where you're voting in your specific area
and keep in mind wherever you're listening to us in Wisconsin you will be able to find that out
it's not just specifically us here in Wood County absolutely and if you look at that website
in a in a bigger city so even in Rapids Marshall which are huge cities but they'll have that
computer up at the polling locations on election day because people show up it's like well I voted
here you know four years ago well it changed yeah and their names aren't done any of the poll books
so we can look them up on the my book because we have that at that they have those at those polling
locations so they can boom click it on and say oh no you're going to be voting here or whatever
when we were talking earlier we mentioned this if you're curious about what's on the ballot
I always encourage our listeners I encourage everybody to vote of course it is your your civic duty
it is a way to keep democracy alive in this country and I think it's fun to be honest I got a bit
I think voting's fun I know I'm weirdo but I do I like I think it's too weird there's in the room
but it's also a great way to find out what's on that ballot certainly you can there's a link for
that it's also a place where you can update your name and address if you've moved since last time
you voted and that can also lead to wondering where you're going to be voting and very important
I want to make sure to mention you can register to vote there I think that this is one of those
things that we do we just me myself I think I need to highlight that more often I've talked to a
lot of our listeners that oftentimes are unsure if they're registered or are concerned that oh no
the day of and I forgot and I'm not sure and I really want to vote and all that how late can you
register to vote truly truly you can vote you can register up until the election day yes the my
vote website is certainly the easiest way of doing it however it only takes one thing it's based
the my vote website is based off your driver's license you have to make sure your driver's license
is up to date so if you move we all know you don't go to the DMV to get in driver's license anymore
however you can go to the DMV website update your address from there and from that DMV website
they'll ask you do you want to register to vote and it'll pull them it'll send you right to that
my vote website after that so you'll be able to register using your driver's license and that's
only one of the items that you could use to register to vote if you register to vote in person
in a clerks office or an election day there are other things you can use driver's license
of course I'm prepared for that driver's license security car yeah so we don't need so security
care oh okay but driver's license there's a list of things that you can use for proof of residency
mail with your address on it your mail some leases your house leaves those things like that
one thing that isn't on that list is insurances don't bring us your car insurance card
um because that's not allowed through statute but there's a list of things that the poll workers
will be able to help you with um on what what you need hmm we're speaking with Trent minor wood
county clerk uh in talking about the april second election coming up uh there is those all
those things that we mentioned there and as we were talking about earlier away to absentee vote
or find out about that as well you can do through the website myvotewi.gov one other really cool
thing that I think uh and and I okay as a fellow voting nerd like I am uh the tracking my ballot
that's so awesome it's cool let's just put aside it's kind of neat and cool to be able to do that
nowadays but it's also pretty vital in this day and age whether it's unfortunate or not I kind of
think it is but uh it's one of those things where it any every bit of transparency we can give the
American people it goes so far nowadays it does it does and and and truly the election process is
so transparent um and it it bugs me that when we hear these things that you know stuff he happens
behind closed doors or votes are switching at the polling place with the machines and stuff like
that all my heavens if these people just got out of their little shell and understood that the
process of the the checks and balances that are in place by state statute truly Wisconsin is one
of the most secure um best run states in the nation um you think about it you know where where
elections administered at they're not at really at the county level they're at the municipal level
and that's not the case in every state in the union so we have 1800 municipal clerks
ish 72 county clerks whereas in say like a state like Arizona where you have just a certain
a number of county clerks because their elections are run by county you have that many people with
their eyes on that information looking to make sure everything is correct it when I tell you
that clerks will go through flaming hoops of fire to make sure everything is done correctly
I'm not joking um if they see something wrong that oh hey this voter's listed twice in my poll book
they're on it yeah they are on it um the the cases of fraud yeah is there going to be election fraud
yes there will be small instances of election fraud it's never enough to overturn an election
have people voted twice yes and guess what they get caught it doesn't take long for them to get caught
and they will be prosecuted it's happened here in wood county before it happens in every county
in the state so um I'm very very confident in the elections that we run in Wisconsin and certainly
in wood county two notes on this that I want to make sure to get to and this is just me speaking
for myself and that civic meaning that WFHR anything like that for one there is nothing you can get
away with nowadays like watch one episode of CSI okay like there's nothing anymore everything's
able to be found and uncovered and everything if anything the less four or five years have shown us
that uh all the questions have been answered all the checks have been balanced uh we understand
around we we get you know I know that there's some people out there that's to their own business
I'm talking to the rational people out there that have two brain cells to put together right and when
it comes to that we understand that not only is the election uh full is solid um but here's
another note and I'll admit I'm a transplant I'm not from this state but I've lived here over 20
years and I got my my my my brother my children are from Wisconsin my best friend is I understand
Wisconsinites pretty well and there's one thing I know about Wisconsinites you guys take pride in
Wisconsin you take pride in being from Wisconsin you take pride in your fellow Wisconsinites yes
that's who's working these machines that's I mean these ballots that's who's counting these votes
that's who's working behind the scenes to make sure that you're the democracy stays alive fellow
Wisconsinites take some pride in your state take some pride in your fellow in your neighbors
and your your colleagues and appreciate what they are doing taking time out of their day how much uh
does does a election worker get paid Trent oh it it buries from and that's I'm not like a feller
money we're not talking yeah we're talking you know ten between ten and fifteen dollars and
all right right you know they can go to McDonald's and make more yeah I am certainly without less
scrutiny exactly yeah without without yeah think about what are your fellow Americans your fellow
human beings sitting next to you at church or at at work or anything like that these are election
workers if you trust your neighbor to take out your dog when you're on vacation this is the same
people they're working the polls yeah you let them in your house they could be trusted to make
sure that everything is run correctly on election day absolutely we've got real issues and real
problems in this world we've got enough on our plate we don't need to make up stuff we don't need
to add things to it if if you have questions encourage you to ask uh and find those
they find the answers out and I really encourage people to you know hey get get over there and
and they could always use people think it always use volunteers they can always if you're really
questioned the process well get off your butt and get in there and actually help out and that
has happened sometimes you know some of some people that had questions about the election or if you
want come to nyers or whatever um I've seen though it's I've seen that happen get in there okay
they do and that's great love it we love to see you in there um I've even had um rep so I'm
you know representative Scott Krug who I respect greatly um especially since you know I as a part
of when I came into office you know some of these politicians you know especially after 2020
were you know almost jumping on that bandweight or things rigged it's like now get your butt in
my office and let's talk about this yeah um and by Kelly if uh representative Krug didn't take
me up on that offer um election night back in eight last April he sat with me the entire night
as election results came in um representative Rosar from Marshfield um said if you ever need me
as a poll worker please let me know and there were a couple times where we were short of uh poll workers
and I said uh Donna can you go to ton of senate go or ton of hiles yep and she went and worked
up so these these people state reps have those two at least have a uh a general knowledge of how
the process actually works because they are they were in there they were doing the job so I
respect that wholly when people do that Scott joins it was uh once a month he's okay no I'm done
job that Scott well we're good friends with Scott we appreciate Scott and Scott one of the
things that him and I have a great respect for each other with is we can butt heads and at the end
of it we're still laughing we're still talking and we've seen that especially this session you know um
so I'm president of the Wisconsin County clerks association this year and um there's some bills
that we saw come through and it was totally different in the assembly elections and campaigns committee
how they treated clerks before it was run by a person that maybe didn't trust clerks as much
that's certainly not the case now and we see legislation that is actually
bipartisan in nature coming out of that committee it's like you know and and representative
crew has been around a long time he understands how do you get a bill to become a law well if you don't
have both houses of the legislature and the governor's you know governor's seat you're going to
have to compromise and that's what we saw this last session so I applaud them um both him and
minority drinking members not grass from the Fox Valley did a fantastic job really this year
Wisconsin has an opportunity to be a beacon to the union we are a purple state we show how this
can be done how we can live next to each other and get things done uh all the time it happens
constantly here in this state and we can continue to highlight that continue to celebrate that uh
after this April 2nd election uh let let's let's use our heads let's use our hearts look out for
each other be good to each other and and appreciate our poll workers and the people working so hard
behind the scenes to keep democracy alive and truly you know yes our county clerks elected officials
yes we are elected every four years on a partisan ballot do we run under a party name yes we do um
but I can I honestly as president of the association I couldn't tell you all that many how many
our dees and how many are ours I mean we're all doing the same job trying to get the same thing done
as best as we can and as you know making sure we're following the statutes however much they can
change around during you know during court season or whatever um we're just trying to do the best
we can and I don't know whether it doesn't matter whether your DRI or purple with pink polka
dots for it doesn't matter yeah it really doesn't matter uh by the way that is my party the purple
pink polka dot party and uh we it's only one member it's just me so far but we'll see I'll go uh
Trent thank you so much for joining us as we're wrapping up let's go over the details one more time
about April 2nd uh when the election uh when the election data the election uh just set it but
you know the data election locations and more information April 2nd um from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m the
polls will be open right at 7 a.m. and they will close at 8 p.m. make sure all if you're voting
absentee you got to make sure that absentee ballot gets back um and then make sure that you're the
one returning that absentee ballot you can't have your neighbor return it for you unless you're
handicapped or something like that so make sure you get your request in early get it sent back um
and then do your do your research go to my vote dot w i dot gov take a look at the candidates and
then research your candidates from there yeah do your homework out there everybody help keep
democracy alive uh get your vote in and find out more at my vote w i dot gov my vote w i dot gov uh
Trent we always appreciate you in the time uh say hi to your team all those uh great people
volunteering over there let them know how much we appreciate them we got your back and thank you
again for the time you bet appreciate it well the more midday magazine coming up right here at
wfhr locally grown radio
