Oshkosh council picks Culver Welcome Center for early in-person absentee voting, asks staff to seek one evening and one Saturday

The Oshkosh Common Council on Jan. 13 approved the Culver Welcome Center as the city's early in-person absentee voting location for the Feb. 17 spring primary and the April election cycle, and directed staff to try to secure one evening and one Saturday of hours at that site.

The move followed a staff recommendation that emphasized the need to select a site tonight to meet an election deadline, while leaving exact dates and times flexible until the Culver Center's availability could be confirmed. City Manager staff said the immediate decision required tonight was the location; dates and times could be refined later.

League of Women Voters speakers urged that the Culver site include clear curbside-voting signage and that at least one evening and one weekend option be provided to accommodate voters who work standard hours. Council members noted trade-offs: weekend bookings add about $1,000 per day in facility cost plus staffing and some events limit availability, but members also emphasized the imperative of maximizing voter access.

Council voted 6-0 to adopt an amendment directing staff to attempt to secure one evening and one Saturday at the Culver Welcome Center where feasible; the amended resolution then passed in roll call. Staff said they would confirm availability with the Culver Center and finalize hours afterward and that the city would deploy an expansive communications plan (utility mailing, text messages, city media and outreach) to notify all households of any changes.

City staff also said additional Badger Books (voter tablets/printers) purchased in 2025 will be distributed to polling locations to reduce lines, and that paratransit and other transportation options could be highlighted in voter communications. The council's action establishes a site for early in-person voting this cycle; staff will return dates/times after confirming facility availability.