Email Question Regarding Absentee Ballots for the Annual Meeting

Brian,

I am not often able to make it to the district's annual meetings. I was going to write and ask if absentee ballots could be used. They could be sent out in the newsletter that precedes the meeting. But I saw your blog post with the Wisconsin statutes that say absentee ballots are not permitted. Do you know what the reasoning is for not allowing absentee ballots? I understand it would create more work for someone who would have to count all those votes, but I believe it would give the board a better idea of what the whole district is thinking about the issues rather than just the small segment that makes it to the meetings.

Sincerely,

John Sill

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John - 

Thanks for your note.  Every year I get the same question about absentee ballots.

I am not a lawyer, so I don't know the exact reason.

The answer to your question is probably the same reason why the annual town hall meetings do not accept absentee ballots.

Democracy requires you show-up to participate.

My take on it is, the annual meetings present 2+ hours of material with Q & A on why certain projects are conducted and why others are not.

We discuss the budget in greater detail than what any local newspaper could provide.

By taking questions and motions and amendments from the floor, we are able to discuss the facts, and add to our transparency.  

We can work together to answer doubts, objections, or refute any suggestions of hidden agendas.

Saturday was Democracy on display.

Those attending moved to amend our budget by removing a $40,000 audit that frankly, was only included in the budget as a response from a series of newspaper articles generated by demands from folks who do not attend either our monthly board meetings or the annual board meeting.  

Those folks should have attended to explain why they felt compelled to demand a 7 year financial audit to local reporters, but then did not believe it was equally important to attend the annual meeting where they could have voted on their own budget item.

Your comment below implies that if absentee ballots were allowed under state statutes, then our annual meetings would have different results.

I disagree.

I would suggest our Board would have that much more support for what we are doing for the property owners of the lake and river.

However, like Town Boards, we can only act on items that are approved by electors who attend the annual meeting.

Hope this clarifies.

Brian Christianson

608-884-9444