Some Milwaukee voters are getting a late curveball before the August 11 partisan primary. Polling places in several neighborhoods are shifting after the Milwaukee Election Commission reassigned multiple wards in two aldermanic districts, citing building construction at two Milwaukee Public Schools sites and the five-alarm fire that heavily damaged Lincoln Avenue School.
What the election commission says
According to the Milwaukee Election Commission, affected voters will receive postcards with their new polling-place details, and the commission will post signs at both the former and new locations on Election Day. Officials say those extra steps are meant to cut down on confusion and help voters land at the correct ward on Aug. 11.
Which wards moved - and where
The latest reassignments move Ward 247 to Becher Terrace Apartments (1800 W. Becher St.), send Ward 143 to Center Street Library (2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.), and place Wards 145 and 169 at Starms Early Childhood Center (2616 W. Garfield Ave.). As reported by WISN, those changes mean more than 2,700 Milwaukee voters will have a new polling place for the August primary.
Important dates and early voting
Early in-person voting in Milwaukee runs July 28 through August 9, and the state deadline to register by mail or online is July 22. The City of Milwaukee Election Commission notes that polls will be open on Aug. 11 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who do not receive a postcard can confirm their polling place at MyVote.
Why the moves happened
City officials say some relocations were unavoidable because Milwaukee Public Schools has construction underway at multiple buildings. Others followed the June 30 five-alarm fire that heavily damaged Lincoln Avenue School. Local coverage from TMJ4 outlines the extent of the damage and the district’s ongoing planning for displaced students.
If you think your polling place may have changed, you can check your registration and assigned voting location at MyVote, or contact the Milwaukee Election Commission at 414-286-VOTE (8683) for help. The commission is urging voters to plan ahead, keep an eye out for posted signs on Election Day, and consider using early-voting centers if a new site would be tough to reach on Aug. 11.
