Verona elections presenter briefs poll workers on procedures, absentee processing and ward assignments

An elections presenter for the City of Verona reviewed key procedures for poll workers ahead of the 2026 Spring Election, emphasizing that "every eligible voter will be able to cast a ballot and have that ballot be counted," and urging staff to carry out duties in a nonpartisan manner.

The presenter started by outlining Election Day basics: polls open statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., party-appointed workers must perform duties nonpartisanly, and each polling place has a water fill station — "I will no longer be providing you with bottled water. So please, just bring your own water bottle," the presenter said. The training listed ward polling places: Sugar River United Methodist Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, the Library and City Hall, and noted ward maps will be available at polling sites.

The session devoted substantial time to the Badger Book check-in workflow. Workers were instructed to use the green "check in voters" option, request a photo ID and the voter's name and address, then search by last name or scan a Wisconsin driver's license or ID. After selecting the voter record and acceptable ID type, staff should rotate the Badger Book so the voter signs in the yellow rectangle and then click "Accept Signature". The presenter warned that scanner problems occurred in February but said the Wisconsin Elections Commission issued a software update intended to fix the issue; workers were told to search by last name if scanners are unhelpful.

The presenter also explained special voter categories and related procedures. Confidential voters present a handwritten confidential card and are exempt from stating their name or address aloud; staff should search by the identification serial number and proceed with normal check-in steps. The presenter described a new class called "protected voters" under Wisconsin Act 235, noting that judicial officers and their immediate family members may have protected status; staff should select the protected voter button in Badger Book, and those voters still must state their name and address and present photo ID.

Absentee ballot handling and common envelope types were reviewed in detail. Workers were directed to confirm whether an absentee ballot has been returned before allowing in-person voting: if a ballot is logged as returned, the voter cannot vote at the polls; if a ballot is "absentee issued" but not returned, the voter may vote in person. Absentee envelopes come in different colors and formats (regular, care-facility envelopes that require two witness signatures from special voting deputies, and overseas/military envelopes that require date of birth and witness information). When processing absentee ballots, staff should read the voter name and address aloud, verify required signatures and witness details, scan or search by name, and only open ballots after they have been checked in. Damaged or overseas/military ballots that need remaking must be remade by two election inspectors (preferably from different parties), the reason recorded, and the original sent to a remade-ballots envelope while the new ballot is fed into the tabulator.

Presenters warned workers that some polling sites will have two distinct ballot styles (for example, Sugar River United Methodist Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church) and emphasized giving voters the correct ballot based on the tally slip (white or green) to ensure they are voting in the correct local contests. Ballots are preprinted with ward numbers and require two sets of initials (chief inspector/designee and the handing poll worker); poll workers were reminded not to pre-initial stacks of ballots.

The trainer reviewed tabulator operation and voter error procedures: each polling place will have two DS200 tabulators (one for in-person voters and one for absentee ballots), the machine will notify voters of overvotes and similar errors, and workers should return the ballot to the voter for correction. Voters may receive up to three ballots; after repeating errors, staff are encouraged to offer the express vote machine. Observers may be present (anyone other than a candidate), must sign in and show ID, must follow the observer rules provided by the chief inspector and may be warned or removed if disruptive.

The closing process was summarized: at 8 p.m. announce the polls closed, allow those in line to vote, verify tallies and write-ins (the presenter expected at least one registered write-in in the statewide Supreme Court race), place spoiled originals into the spoiled ballots envelope, and transmit results to the county when the counts are complete. The presenter closed by asking staff not to leave until dismissed by the chief inspector and provided contact information (Elections@VeronaWI.gov and a slide-listed cell phone number) for follow-up questions.

The training emphasized accuracy, chain-of-custody procedures for ballots and envelopes, and the importance of following scripted prompts in the Badger Book when interacting with voters. Workers were advised to use the QR-code signage or the "My Vote" lookup to confirm voter polling places, and to contact the chief inspector with any compliance or process questions.

The presenter concluded by thanking workers and reminding them about logistics for the day, including meal provisions and cleanup duties after polls close.