This afternoon the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals extended the stay on implementing new absentee ballot rules. Last week US District Judge William Conley issued a decision to extend the time to return absentee ballots in the Nov. 3 election, among other changes.

While scrolling through social media recently, I saw someone ask, “Why hasn’t Governor Evers distributed funds from the Heroes Act?” Others jumped all over this comment, claiming the Governor failed because the Heroes Act wasn’t being implemented when it could be.

Federal Judge William Conley has ruled that Wisconsin absentee ballots may be counted if they are postmarked by Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 9. The ruling also extends the date for requesting absentee ballots by one week, until Oct. 21. The injunction does not take place for a week to allow defendants to make an emergency appeal, which is almost certain to happen. The ruling is attached below. Judge Conley is the same judge who allowed similar changes in voting for the April election.

The Menomonie Area Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Chippewa Valley Chapter of the League of Women Voters are soliciting questions from area residents for candidates running for state senate and assembly races to be used in upcoming online forum events.

"Candidate forums seem particularly appropriate and needed at this time when opportunities for candidates to share their views with voters are so limited," said Susan Hall, a vice-president of the local League.