http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vote-47-mb3-s5.jpgThanks to the Republicans everyone will need to be extra vigilant with social distancing.

MADISON - State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) urged everyone to be extra vigilant when practicing social distancing over the holiday weekend and beyond to minimize the risk of spreading the virus in response to Republicans forcing people to vote in person on Election Day.

“As scary and sad as it is, the virus was likely spread between voters and poll workers as a result of in-person voting. So we all need to do our part to limit its spread by making sure we follow the Safer at Home Order and that we are extra vigilant in following social distancing guidelines,” said Hansen.

Democrats and Governor Evers attempted to reduce the risk of in-person voting by allowing more time for people to receive and return their absentee ballots and by at least temporarily removing absentee ballot restrictions that Republicans put in place under Scot Walker to suppress voter turnout of young people and minorities. Republicans challenged those safety measures and the Republican U.S. Supreme Court ruled in their favor.

When Governor Evers attempted to suspend in-person voting Republicans again went to court and the Republican State Supreme Court ruled that in-person voting must go on.

“The Republicans can try to shift the blame all they want but the bottom line is it didn’t have to be this way. Instead of seeing the unprecedented danger of holding the election, Republicans saw the virus as a voter suppression tool they could use to improve Dan Kelly’s chances of getting reelected. It was another in a long line of cynical attempts to hold onto their power but this time it could have deadly consequences.”

If the state sees a spike in new cases resulting from in-person voting it could also require an extension of the Safer at Home order and delay any possibility of getting people back to work.

“It is really unfortunate that, thanks to the Republican Party’s callous disregard for anyone or anything other than their own selfish interests, we could see lives needlessly lost and continuing economic pain for much longer than might otherwise have been necessary. Thanks to the Republicans people really need to be extra vigilant in keeping their distance from one another this weekend and beyond.”