Ballot blank for Milwaukee County supervisor race

 

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- People voting early in northwest Milwaukee may have noticed something odd about their ballot-- there is no official candidate for District 18 county supervisor.

Milwaukee County Elections Commission Director Julietta Henry says the blank ballot for April 5 is unprecedented.

"I've been doing this for 30 years, this is the first time I've seen this occur," she said.

Henry tells CBS 58 that no candidate filed the necessary paperwork to get on the ballot.

"In this case, number of signatures needed was 200," she said.

There will be at least six write-in candidates to choose from, including the incumbent. You can see the list here.

Horace Kirby plans to vote in the District 18 race, and finds the lack of a single candidate on the ballot troubling.

"If you are not able to get the paperwork in on time, how am I able to trust you when you get into office to do things on time?" Kirby said. "So right now, as far as I'm concerned, the individuals who are running for that position have been a failure."

Some of the candidates did take time to launch campaign websites. Henry says in-person voters will have to remember their preferred choice as they walk into the voting booth.

"Do your research prior to Election Day so you'll know who to vote for," Henry said.

Henry added that deciding the District 18 race will take longer than usual, since tabulating write-in votes is more time-consuming.

You have until Friday, April 1 at noon to register at the Milwaukee County Election Commission office to add your name to the list of write-in candidates. You must live in Milwaukee County District 18 to enter that race.