In-person absentee voting has begun for the August 11 primary. So if you have not yet requested an absentee ballot, there's no time to lose. Using a smartphone to make uploading a digital picture of your Photo ID, just follow the instructions at myvote.wi.gov. For a visual guide to the process, see our step-by-step, illustrated instructions or a Citizen Action video. And if you have already requested or even received your ballot, return it ASAP. See below for an alternative method that allows you to bypass the postal service.

Voter suppression is occurring all around us in Wisconsin. So I want to take a few minutes to outline many of the ways voting can be discouraged or denied. And some of the ways each and every one of us can combat these problems.

• Restrictive laws for registering to vote (residency periods & voter ID)
• Restrictive laws for absentee voting (witness signature & address)
• Restrictions on early voting (times & locations)
• Restrictive laws for voting on Election Day (photo id)
• Closed or moved polling places (a big problem in April)
• Closed municipal offices
• Disruption of the postal service
• Poll observer challenges and intimidation
• Fear
• Manufactured apathy / Media manipulation

There are undoubtedly others.

Laws governing voting are hard to change. So knowing what the laws require is vital. Proving that you are who you say you are and that you live where you say you live can become huge obstacles for some. Under quarantine or isolation protocols, safely obtaining a witness signature and address on a mail-in ballot can pose problems. A solution: Be in touch with people you know who live alone and find out what they need to vote safely. In Wisconsin, anyone can vote absentee — no excuse is necessary. Help others provide their Photo ID electronically. Use safe social distancing to witness ballots. But the witness does not need to reside where the voter is registered to vote. The city of Milwaukee is providing a number of locations where people can get their ballots witnessed and drop them off. Even if you live in Ozaukee County, you can get your certification envelope witnessed at one of the city's early voting locations, though you'll have to post your ballot (or drop it off — see below) at your municipal office.

To register to vote in Wisconsin, a citizen must be able to prove that she resides at a specific location. Proof requires one of many approved documents. The full list can be found on the Wisconsin Election Commission website. The voter must have resided at that location for the 28 days preceding election day. Otherwise, the voter has to return to her previous location and vote at the polling location for that address. If she needs to register on election day or during the early in-person voting period, she will need proof of residence at that location! A solution: Help others plan ahead to acquire the needed documentation to register during the early voting period or at the polls on election day.

To exercise his right to vote in person on election day, a citizen must show proof of identity (also known as Photo ID) and must audibly recite his name and address so that any poll observers can challenge the voter. He must also sign the poll book. People with physical disabilities may find both the enunciation of their name and address and the requirement to sign the poll book to be problematic. A solution: People who might find those tasks challenging are entitled to assistance. You can volunteer to help people you know but who might have some trouble voting by taking them to their polling location and helping them do whatever is necessary to cast a ballot.

More troubling still is finding traditional polling places moved to new locations or closed altogether. For the April election, the city of Milwaukee was so short of poll workers that it could staff only FIVE polling locations instead of the 180 places it traditionally supported. To address this problem, the city needs to recruit hundreds of new poll workers. To work at the polls on election days, you need to be 1) eligible to vote; 2) live in the county where you intend to work; and 3) be available for training. A solution: If you live in Milwaukee County, you can apply to be an Election Inspector (aka poll worker) either through the Democratic Party's Election Protection Team or on the city's website. All voting districts have been allocated the funds to ensure that polls are as safe for poll workers and for voters as possible. And the city is paying Election Inspectors $230 for each election day. Ozaukee County residents can be poll workers at polling locations in Ozaukee County. In Ozaukee, you can sign up through the Democratic Party.

Urban Milwaukee recently published an article documenting that Mail-In Ballots Indicate Huge Turnout for August Primary. The absentee ballots have pre-paid postage on them but you do not have to mail them back. The US postal service seems to be experiencing some difficulties these days. For one thing, the newly appointed head of the organization has apparently banned any overtime work. And the problems may grow more severe in the fall. Moreover, the courts have ruled that mail-in ballots must be received by 8pm on election day. The confluence of these two edicts makes the postal service less reliable than we might wish. A solution: Use the drop boxes that many (if not most) municipalities provide. Here are the locations for drop boxes in Milwaukee's North Shore communities:

• Bayside: Deposit box outside the front door;
• Brown Deer: Brown mailbox on the sidewalk as you approach the building;
• Fox Point: Mail slot in the front door;
• Glendale: Metal drop box in the parking lot;
• River Hills: Slot in the front door;
• Shorewood: White mailbox in the parking lot;
• Whitefish Bay: Depository inside the front door.

In Ozaukee County, contact your municipal clerk for information. Phone numbers for Ozaukee communities can be found on the Grassroots North Shore Elections 2020 page.

Election observers are provided by political parties and the GOP has promised to recruit 50,000 poll watchers to challenge voters. A solution: To make sure voters are not harassed or intimidated, the Democratic Party is likewise recruiting as many observers as it can. You can volunteer here and the Election Protection Team will fill you in on what you need to do and to know. And by the way, you don't have to be a Wisconsin resident or voter to be an observer. So friends and family in nearby states can also sign up as long as they can get to the poll to which they will be assigned.

In these uncertain times, many people fear exposure to Covid-19 if they have to vote in person. That's why it is so important that everyone you know can vote safely by absentee ballot. A solution: The best thing you can do is help others obtain their absentee ballot, fill it and the certification (return) envelope out correctly, and drop it off at his/her municipal office, preferably ahead of election day itself.

Of all the voter suppression tactics, manufactured apathy and media manipulation may be the hardest to overcome. As the current occupent of the White House continues to claim — falsely — that mail-in voting is inherently rife with fraud (see here and here and here for three important examples), and Facebook and other social media platforms let politicians spew falsehoods about voting, most of us feel pretty helpless. A solution: Those with social media accounts and plenty of courage should speak out as often as necessary to push back. And the tactic may be self-defeating. As the Washington Post story tell us, Republicans seem to be "driving suspicion among GOP voters toward absentee ballots." So some of their voters are not availing themselves of the opportunity to vote absentee. Now wouldn't it be a delicious irony if their lies ended up suppressing Drumpf votes!

Tue Jul 28, 2020

Virtual Drinking Liberally MKE, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Zoom
Drinking Liberally MKE will get together on Zoom. Zoom Code. More information.

Tom Palzewicz Town Hall, 7pm - 8pm
Zoom
Live Town Hall via Zoom with Virtual Audience. Featuring candidates Tom Palzewicz (CD-5), Sara Rodriguez (AD-13), and Rep. Robin Vining (AD-14). Register.

Wed Jul 29, 2020

Newsmaker: Sen. Tammy Baldwin, 12pm - 1pm
Online
Senator Tammy Baldwin will be the featured guest at the virtual Newsmaker Lunch Hour presented by the Milwaukee Press Club, WisPolitics.com and Rotary Club of Milwaukee. The media panel: CharlesBenson, Today’s TMJ4; Jeff Mayers, WisPolitics.com; Adrienne Pedersen, WISN Channel 12. Free virtual webinar. Registration (required).

Educ Freedom/MKE Black Students, 4pm - 5:30pm
Zoom
At this webinar, learn details about the MPS Office of Civil Rights Resolution response, the Black and Latino Male Achievement Office efforts and how discriminatory discipline impacts Black students and families, and damages the community. Panelists will share their varied perspectives. Hosted by Leaders Igniting Transformation, Black Educators Caucus MKE, and MICAH Milwaukee. Link to join.

Info: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Refuel the Resistance is canceled for now, but Bounce is currently open for delivery and carryout. And check out "Apocalypse Drive-In," when movies are shown every Friday and Saturday in the parking lot and food and beverages can be brought out to your car. Much more information on how this new program works is here.

Thu Jul 30, 2020

LaTonya Johnson Fundraiser, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Zoom
You are invited to a virtual event via Zoom to reelect State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, with special guest Rep. Evan Goyke. Sponsorship Levels are Host: $1,000, Co-Host: $500, Sponsor: $250, Friend: $100. RSVP. (Zoom link provided upon RSVP.)

Urban Milwaukee Interview With David Bowen, 5:30pm - 6:15pm
Virtual
Urban Milwaukee offers the city’s only news-site membership program, with many perks such as this one. By becoming a member, not only will you help support Urban Milwaukee’ s journalism, but you’ll help us continue to grow our publication, which now publishes more than 75 stories and 100 press releases per week. This event is only one of the great perks you get by becoming an UrbanMilwaukee member. Here are just a few others: - Invitations to member-only events and online chats with a chance to meet and converse with Urban Milwaukee staff, including our periodic Beer Bashes that explore new Milwaukee breweries - Free tickets to concerts, festivals, and other great events as they become available through our partners - A chance to provide support that assures Urban Milwaukee can continue focusing on smart, substantive news coverage rather than clickbait - A 10 percent discount on all merchandise at Urban Milwaukee: TheStore, located at 755 N. Milwaukee St. in downtown Milwaukee when we reopen. All of this is just $9/month, or $99 per year. Signing up is easy, and you are welcome to cancel at any time. Join us today. Once you’ve become a member, claim your tickets.

Town Hall with Deb Andraca, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Virtual
Join Ozaukee County Democrats and Grassroots Northshore for a Digital Town Hall with Deb Andraca for WI State Assembly, Democratic candidate for Assembly District 23 who will be taking your questions live on Facebook. Deb Andraca is a wife, a mother, a teacher, and an active community volunteer who has worked for large international companies, political campaigns, trade associations and non-profit organizations. She's spent 17 years in our district working hard to make our neighborhoods better for our families, but believes that things are headed in the wrong direction. Participate.

Fri Jul 31, 2020

CBC Virtual Town Hall: Poverty Advocates, 11am - 12pm
Zoom
The Congressional Black Caucus will present a town hall meeting on Poverty Advocates. Hosts: Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Gwen Moore (WI-04). RSVP.

Sat Aug 1, 2020

Building Captain Training, 11am - 12pm
Zoom
MKE Democratic Action is developing a pilot Building Captains Program. Volunteers living in apartment/condo buildings of eight units or more are needed to help reach other Democrats in their buildings. Sign up to learn how the program works and how you can help. Register.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
E. Michigan Street & N. Lincoln Memorial Drive
Stand for Peace is resuming their presence with careful precautions (more information on this). Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Mon Aug 3, 2020

Conservation Voters Listening Session, 6pm - 7pm
Online
Wisconsin Conservation Voters is hosting a virtual community listening session on August 3rd from 6-7. We want to hear about the environmental priorities of the Southeast and Milwaukee communities. Interested people can sign up here.

Virtual Drinking Liberally Waukesha, 6:30pm - 6:30pm
Online?
Drinking Liberally Waukesha may be held virtually with Zoom. Check for updates.

Wed Aug 5, 2020

US Supreme Ct / Major Decisions, 12pm - 1pm
Online
Major Decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court’s Recent Term, discussed byScott Idleman, Professor, Marquette Law School. Free virtual program, open to the community. Registration (required).

Info: Refuel the Resistance, 6pm - 8pm
Bounce Milwaukee, 2801 S. 5th Ct., Milwaukee
Refuel the Resistance is canceled for now, but Bounce is currently open for delivery and carryout. And check out "Apocalypse Drive-In," when movies are shown every Friday and Saturday in the parking lot and food and beverages can be brought out to your car. Much more information on how this new program works is here.

Info: Laughing Liberally MKE, 8:30pm - 9:30pm
Podcasts
On the first and third Wednesday of every month, host Matthew Filipowicz and a different Laughing Liberally MKE comedian will discuss and joke about a news story, and talk a bit about the craft of comedy. The podcasts will be available on the website. More information.

Thu Aug 6, 2020

Postponed: DPMC Issues Committee Meeting, 4:30pm - 4:30pm
Amalgamated Transit Union, 734 N. 26th St., Milwaukee
The Democratic Party's Issues Committee holds its meeting on the first Thursday of each month. All Democrats are welcome to participate.

Election Forum/AD 17, 7pm - 8pm
Radio 101.7 FM
Candidates for Assembly District 17, formerly held by David Crowley, will take part in a forum broadcast on Radio 101.7 FM in advance of the August 11 primary election. The following Democrats are running for this office: Mike Brox, Supreme Moore Omokunde, and Chris Walton.

Fri Aug 7, 2020

Election Forum/AD 8, 7pm - 8pm
Radio 101.7 FM
Candidates for Assembly District 8, formerly held by JoCasta Zamarripa, will take part in a forum broadcast on Radio 101.7 FM in advance of the August 11 primary election. The following Democrats are running for this office: Sylvia Ortiz-Velez and JoAnna Bautch.

Sat Aug 8, 2020

Weekend of Action, 9AM - 9pm
Virtual Phone Banks
Organized by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Links to sign up coming soon.

UN Assn of MKE, 10am - 12pm
Suspended
This meeting is suspended for the time being. More information.

Stand for Peace, 12pm - 1pm
Location TBA
Stand for Peace is resuming their presence with careful precautions (more information). Stand for peace in the streets of Milwaukee, every Saturday at noon. Organized by Peace Action Wisconsin.

Laughing Liberally Milwaukee, 8pm - 10pm
Podcasts
During the pandemic, Laughing Liberally Milwaukee has morphed into podcasts with local comedians, to be released on the first and third Wednesday of the month. More information.

Sun Aug 9, 2020

Weekend of Action, 12pm - 9pm
Virtual Phone Banks
Organized by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Links to sign up coming soon.

Mon Aug 10, 2020

Grass Roots South Shore Meeting, 6pm - 8pm
Cudahy Library, 3500 Library Dr. , Cudahy
Grass Roots South Shore holds its monthly meeting on the second Monday of each month. For more information call Jim Balk, 414-218-5944.