The number of Wisconsin residents requesting absentee ballots or voting absentee in the June 5 recall election is nearly three times higher than during the May 8 recall primary.
According to the Government Accountability Board, more than 182,000 residents have requested absentee ballots as of noon Friday. During the May primary, clerks tracked 68,000 absentee ballots.Voter turnout for the primary was 29.5 percent. The board estimates turnout Tuesday may exceed 60 percent of eligible voters.
In-person absentee voting is set to end at five o'clock Friday afternoon or at the close of business. However, some clerks could extend hours to accommodate high demand.
Clerks will no longer mail absentee ballots. Those already in voters' hands must by postmarked by Election Day, June 5, and arrive in the local election office by four o'clock next Friday afternoon, June 8.