‘Nice and calm and steady’ in Stoughton

Ahead of the election in the city of Stoughton outside of Madison, the clerk’s office had purchased trauma kits for every polling place, Wisconsin Watch reported. On Tuesday, chief inspector Colby Smith at the fire station poll couldn’t immediately remember where the kit had been placed because the day had gone so smoothly.

“It’s been hectic but pleasant,” Smith says. “I still have a lot of faith in Stoughton city.”

The station was packed with a line out the door as the after-work rush filed in. As of 4 p.m. about half of the voters in the district had cast a ballot. In 2020, more than 90% of the district turned out, according to Smith — who’s worked as a poll inspector for the last six years.

Election observer Mary Anderson, a Stoughton resident, says the day was “nice and calm and steady,” and that other than a few reporters dropping in, nothing unusual had happened. She says she came because she believes in the system.

“I believe in this electoral process and making sure people have the right to vote,” Anderson says.