VOTING IN MONONA, WISCONSIN. An emailer sends thi:

Just voted in Monona. The atmosphere was something I’d never experienced here before. My husband and I had to walk past two elderly members of the odious group MoveOn.org who had set up a table in front of the Community Center. The lobby was crowded with tables full of baked goods for various local organizations. They reported brisk business since 7AM.

We didn’t have to wait in line but the place was the busiest I’ve ever seen in 26 years of voting. When we went to pick up our number, I noticed about four somber-looking women spread out amongst the poll workers sitting and taking notes on yellow legal pads. They didn’t have any identifying buttons like the rest of the poll workers and I suspect they were some sort of observers.

When the poll workers verified my address out loud, I was bothered that they were able to hear that information. It was disconcerting to watch them take notes during both our transactions with the polling volunteer. If they are observers, they should have to wear a badge identifying what organization that they represent.

The line to register new voters was about 10 deep at 9:30.

UPDATE: An emailer offers this (possibly nerve-calming) explanation:

What your correspondent was probably seeing was something of the Get Out The Vote effort in Wisconsin. Here in the Chicago area, the lists of
registered voters are public information. Who has or has not voted is
also public information. The people checking off names probably have a
list of people they believe will vote for their guy (developed through a
series of phone calls, door to door knocking, looking at what party
ballot was pulled during the primary, etc…) so that they can focus on
getting their people to the polls who haven’t done so already.

As the day progresses, other GOTV workers will follow up by calling the
identified supporters who haven’t voted yet. If they are really good,
they’ll offer a ride to the poll as well so that they can vote.

In short–what was seen there was probably pretty innocuous. It appears
to just be a well run precinct organization.