No Election That Endangers Voters Is Legitimate

Despite the blatant public health danger it poses and the widespread voter disenfranchisement that will occur, Wisconsin will hold its primary tomorrow. People will die as a result — and the results should be seen as illegitimate.

Nik Anderson / Flickr


At the time of this writing, it appears the Wisconsin Democratic presidential primary will proceed as scheduled tomorrow during a once-in-a-century global pandemic. Over the weekend, Wisconsin governor Tony Evers issued an order postponing Tuesday’s election until June 9, but today the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in a four-to-two vote, overrode the governor’s decision.

The polls are scheduled to open in the morning despite in-person voting flying in the face of public-health advisories to avoid crowds — of which there will be many, with only a fraction of polling stations prepared to open. (The Hill reports that in Milwaukee, between six and twelve stations plan to open, as opposed to the 180 during the 2016 primary.)

The state Supreme Court ruling means the Democratic presidential primary between former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders is back on for Tuesday. Polls show Biden with a massive lead over Sanders in Wisconsin, but neither candidate has been advertising in or visiting the state. The primary race has effectively ground to a halt as Biden is marooned at home and Sanders works from Washington.

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