Milwaukee may have over 100,000 ballots casted by election day

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It is the final stretch before the election and Wisconsin is heating up. The Milwaukee Election Commission (MEC) says it has received nearly 80,000 absentee ballots.

At the Capitol Drive Voting Center, lines continue to wrap around the building as poll workers inside tell CBS 58 they’re seeing record turnout day after day.

“It’s very important to vote on this election for everyone's freedom and for the country to move forward, not backwards,” said Harvey Harris, an early voter.

In five days, citizens across the nation will cast their ballots for who they want as the next president of the United States. In Milwaukee, some voters are encouraging others to cast their ballot early.

“I grew up in Alabama when we didn’t always have the right to vote. I remember going through the voting booth with my uncle the first time he voted and so I've voted ever since I was old enough to vote,” said Benni Higgins, an early voter.

The MEC says on each of the past three days, over 6,000 Milwaukeeans voted early. If people continue to vote early in large numbers, the MEC says it may have over 100,000 ballots by election day.

Executive Director of the MEC Paulina Gutierrez says all of these ballots will come to Central Count where they will begin counting at 8 A.M.

Gutierrez says the more ballots there are, the longer it will take to get final results.

“I’d give more of a time of like 2 or 3 in the morning likely. You know, we’re very efficient and we’ve become more efficient at processing our ballots, but what I always like to remind the public is, we also have a very extensive and formal exporting process and that in and of itself takes several hours,” said Gutierrez.

Voters at Capitol Drive say no matter who you choose to cast your ballot for, just make sure your voice is heard.

“State your opinion, you know what I'm saying? Everybody got their own opinion and to vote for. So, this is a nice thing and everybody’s doing what they need to do and hopefully we get the right president,” said Joseph Williams, an early voter.

Early voting ends Sunday, November 3rd.