Milwaukee physicians urge WI officials to postpone April 7th voting

Dr. Ian Gilson, a long-time internist at Froedtert Hospital's Sergeant Clinic, is among local physicians

urging state officials-on medical grounds-to postpone the April 7th election.

These sentences are at the heart of a letter physicians are sending to state officials:

If the election goes on as planned, we Milwaukee health care workers will be at risk of having to manage a surge of severely ill voters and poll workers about 2 to 3 weeks later - a surge that we are already planning for, but which would be more severe if the election is held as planned.

Here is the letter's full text:

My internal medicine colleagues and I are urging the governor, legislature, and state epidemiologist to declare postponement of the Tuesday election using the powers of a medical emergency.

With 4 or 5 polling places available in Milwaukee for up to 50,000 same day voters, there will be an unacceptable risk of COVID infection for voters and poll workers.

If the election goes on as planned, we Milwaukee health care workers will be at risk of having to manage a surge of severely ill voters and poll workers about 2 to 3 weeks later - a surge that we are already planning for, but which would be more severe if the election is held as planned.

Our election must be conducted in a medically safe manner.

Ian Gilson, MD, FACP
Staff physician
Sargeant Clinic
Froedtert Community Physicians
Clinical Professor of Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin