By Oona Mackesey-Green
Northside News
After a Madison Common Council vote, two Northside polling places have changed in advance of the 2018 Spring Primary on Feb. 20 and the Spring Election on April 3. Northsiders in ward 31, who formerly voted at St. Paul Lutheran Church, will now vote at Lakeview Library, 2845 N. Sherman Ave. Ward 32 voters, who formerly voted at Packer Avenue Townhomes, will now vote in the community room in the Goodwill Store, 2901 N. Sherman Ave. Both new locations are in the Northside TownCenter.
Northside residents expressed mixed reactions to the change in online posts on Facebook and Nextdoor, citing challenges like parking and long waits associated with both the former and new polling locations.
The common council voted to suspend its rules during the Jan. 16 meeting in order to consider the change inpolling locations proposed by District 12 Alder Larry Palm. Regular council rules require that an item for consideration must be introduced at a council meeting at least two weeks before the final vote. The request for changes in polling places was introduced six days before the meeting. The change passed and took effect immediately.
In a Jan. 9 blog post, Alder Palm cited numerous requests received, as well as feedback from voter surveys, for changing the two polling locations. “While I understand that changing polling places is not something that should be done often, the Clerk’s Office and I agree that moving these two polling places will allow for more convenient access.” Palm did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Northside District 18 Alder Rebecca Kemble objected to the proposal due to the lack of adequate opportunity for public input and an unanswered question about how these changes will affect people of color that was raised by the Northside Planning Council (NPC). Kemble also raised questions about the usual process for changing polling places which City Attorney Michael May said had never been raised before. Kemble said that she will initiate an effort to revise this process to require public input and adequate notice.
NPC learned of the proposed change the day before the council meeting. NPC board chair Lisa Wiese submitted a letter to the council on behalf of the organization, calling for a more extended process of community input and outreach before passing a change that would affect upcoming elections with little notice.
“The choice of a polling location can either enhance or dampen residents’ voices. The Northside Planning Council supports the right of residents to actively participate in decisions made within the community. Any change that can affect how residents voice their opinions, especially at the ballot box, should be made with thought, oversight and sunlight.”
Residents can contact the Madison Common Council with feedback at alders@cityofmadison.com, or identify and contact the alder for their district at cityofmadison.com/Council/councilMembers/alders.cfm.