Wisconsin Governor Orders Stop To Tomorrow’s Primary

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:

In a historic move less than 24 hours before polls were set to open, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers shut down Tuesday’s election to avoid causing more illness and deaths in Wisconsin as the number of coronavirus infections surges.

Evers on Monday issued an executive order that bars in-person voting Tuesday and moves the state’s spring election to June 9. It also calls lawmakers back into session this week to decide whether the election should be held at a different date.

But the move is expected to immediately be challenged by Republican lawmakers who want to keep polls open and adjourned the Legislature on Monday without taking up measures to delay the election that Evers called for on Friday.

Evers called a special legislative session over the weekend so lawmakers could vote on delaying the primary.

Republican leaders in both chambers gaveled their sessions out in seconds.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order suspending in-person voting in tomorrow’s election and moving it to June 9 “unless the Legislature passes and the Governor approves a different date for inperson voting.” pic.twitter.com/N21kQP3ZzL

— Adam Brewster (@adam_brew) April 6, 2020

Evers ordered the delay until June 9, a move he’s previously said he didn’t think he had legal authority to make

A challenge to the conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected immediately

Meanwhile, the US Supreme Court is weighing an appeal on a federal case

— Scott Bauer (@sbauerAP) April 6, 2020