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Incumbent First District Congressman Bryan Steil, a Republican from Janesville who’s facing a challenge on Nov. 5 from Democrat Peter Barca of Kenosha, voted at Janesville City Hall on Tuesday morning.

In Rock County, early voting continues through Friday, Nov. 1.

Steil spoke briefly with The 69���� on Tuesday, saying no matter which political party people ascribe to, they should take advantage of early voting. He noted that early voting is legal and a great tool that lends flexibility to the voting process, and that he was happy to have available.

“I think it’s important that everyone makes their voice heard in this election,” Steil said. “We need to make sure everyone comes out and votes. I’m encouraging everyone to utilize all the legal tools that are available to us in the state of Wisconsin to bank their vote.”

He added that having some voting done early makes election day easier for poll workers, especially given the stress that accompanies that job in a presidential election year.

“Early voting is a great, convenient way for people to vote,” Steil said, adding that “the weather is perfect this week in Wisconsin. You never know what it’s going to look like in a week or two. Take advantage of the good weather. Get your vote in and you’ll be a little more relaxed on election day.”

Pam and Jerry Conway were also voting early at Janesville City Hall on Tuesday. They said they voted early because they want their vote to count and felt it was easier than going to the polls on Nov. 5. It also avoids the possibility of an emergency coming up on election day that would keep them from getting to the polls.

“There are a lot of important issues on the ballot: immigration, finances. We want our money to count for us and our lives. We care about what happens in our schools. That’s why we came out,” Pam Conway said. “We have a family, and we’re really concerned about their future with all the way things are, our country is running now.”

Walworth County early voting

In Walworth County, early voting also began Tuesday. The final day of early voting varies by municipality.

The cities of Whitewater, Elkhorn and Delavan offer early voting until Nov. 1, as do the villages of Williams Bay, Walworth, Fontana on Geneva Lake and Darien, and the towns of Sugar Creek, Spring Prairie and Darien.

Early voting ends on Oct. 31 in the village of Sharon, and the towns of Whitewater, Walworth, La Grange and Delavan, and on Nov. 2 in the town of Richmond.

In the town of Lafayette, an appointment is required to vote early. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (262) 723-4321.

Walworth County drop boxes

Meanwhile in Walworth County, as early voting began, questions arose regarding the location of absentee ballot drop boxes and whether or not municipalities were using them.

Walworth County Clerk Clerk Susi Pike told The 69���� on Tuesday that she sent a survey to municipal clerks in July with a range of response options including confirmation that drop boxes would be used in their jurisdiction to unsure whether they would be used, to saying they would not be used.

Pike said she didn’t hear back from all of the municipalities in Walworth County, noting that those that did not respond included the towns of Richmond and Troy, the villages of Darien and Sharon and the city of Lake Geneva.

“The state didn’t give us any direction on it (from there),” Pike said.