April 7 election in De Pere consolidated to two sites

DE PERE – Due to unprecedented conditions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of De Pere’s polling locations for the upcoming April 7 spring election and presidential preference primary have been consolidated from four locations to two.

In simplest terms, there will be one polling site on each side of the Fox River now; the De Pere Community Center for residents on the west side to utilize on election day, and St. Francis Xavier Parish Community Center (Notre Dame Middle School) for residents living on the east side.

The De Pere Community Center is located at 600 Grant Street. The St. Francis Xavier Parish Community Center (Notre Dame Middle School) is located at 220 S. Michigan Street.

For complete reference, the following locations are designated as the polling places for the voters of these various wards:  Wards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 18 will be at Notre Dame of De Pere Middle School (first and second aldermanic district). Meanwhile, Wards 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 will be at De Pere Community Center (third and fourth aldermanic district).

As a result, please note that previously-used polling locations like First United Presbyterian Church (east side) and St. Mark Lutheran Church (west side) are closed for this election.

The need for consolidation has come as a result of the state of emergency and the Safer at Home Order. The City of De Pere is experiencing a shortage of poll workers, making it difficult to staff and supervise all four polling places. Therefore, Mayor Mike Walsh signed a proclamation on Monday, March 30 to temporarily suspend the City ordinance requiring four polling sites.  

Locally on the ballot, James Boyd is the only mayoral candidate running to replace long-serving current Mayor Mike Walsh (24 years). Elsewhere, vying in contested races for spots on common council are Randy Soquet and Shana Defnet Ledvina for District 1; and Kelly Ruh and Matt Gruetzmacher in District 2.

District 3 sees candidate Mike Eserkaln running unopposed. Likewise for Dan Carpenter (incumbent) in District 4.

As a reminder, deadline to request an absentee ballot is April 2 at 5 p.m., and these ballots must be received at City Hall by 8:00 PM on Election Day. For more information, visit www.deperewi.gov.

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