More than 169,500 absentee ballots cast in Milwaukee; counting concluded around 4 a.m.

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Milwaukee County concluded counting ballots shortly after 4 a.m. on Wednesday, November 4.

According to the Milwaukee County Director of Elections, 169,519 absentee ballots were cast in the City of Milwaukee. In total, 460,300 ballots were cast throughout the county. The number of absentee ballots shattered records -- three times as many as the last presidential race.

Voter turnout in Milwaukee County was 83 percent.

That is very good for a presidential election,” Milwaukee County Election Commission Director Juliette Henry said. 

Celebrating that counting absentee ballots is almost over some 19 hours after they started at MKE central count. @CBS58#Election2020pic.twitter.com/s5vafhlR8E

— Pauleen Le (@PauleenLe) November 4, 2020

Henry said now, a 17-day canvas will begin. The process of the canvas is to verify every single ballot that was cast is correct.

“I’ve been doing elections since 1992 and we have been through this process sometimes until six or seven and again the process is for to make sure every ballot is counted," Henry said. "We voted absentee. Probably some of you voted absentee and we check MyVote throughout the week and we want to make sure our ballots are counted.”

According to Henry, the canvassing process will include certifying the results on three levels. The three levels include municipal clerks, Milwaukee clerks and the state.

Results need to be submitted to the state by Tuesday, November 17.