Ten mayors from across Wisconsin — along with dozens of local and state officials throughout the state — are calling on state Health Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to ban in-person voting during Tuesday's election due to the coronavirus pandemic.

And they want state lawmakers to work with Gov. Tony Evers to move to a mail-only election, saying that would protect public safety and people's ability to vote.

The mayors, including those who lead some of Wisconsin's largest cities, and officials urged Palm "to exercise the emergency powers delegated to you" in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.

"We need you to step up and stop the State of Wisconsin from putting hundreds of thousands of citizens at risk by requiring them to vote at the polls while this ugly pandemic spreads," the letter reads.

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It was initially signed by Tom Barrett of Milwaukee, Eric Genrich of Green Bay, Lori Palmeri of Oshkosh, Tim Kabat of La Crosse, John Antaramian of Kenosha, Cory Mason of Racine, Tim Hanna of Appleton, Satya Rhodes-Conway of Madison, Karen Mischel of Viroqua and Kathy Ehley of Wauwatosa.

The list has since grown to include city, county, state and schools officials from Wausau to Kenosha.

"We believe it would be irresponsible and contrary to public health to conduct in-person voting throughout the state at the very time this disease is spreading rapidly," they wrote.

The officials praised Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for calling a special session in an effort address the issue.

"In light of the Legislature's inexcusable refusal to act, you and your department now are the sole parties in the position to prevent hundreds of thousands of voters and poll workers from potentially being exposed needlessly to this worldwide pandemic," they wrote.

They added that the absentee ballots already cast should be counted and that others should be allowed to vote by mail.

"We must still ensure every eligible voter has the right to vote without jeopardizing their health. We recognize that you and your department have the authority to take this action, but that you do not have the authority to determine the modifications necessary to conclude this election," they wrote.

The officials also called for lawmakers to hold a special session on Monday and work with Evers to come up with a plan that "protects public health and protects the right to vote."

"We believe the most logical way to accomplish an election that maintains the safer-at-home order is to mail every registered voter a ballot," they wrote. "EVERY other state that faced this issue during the pandemic has crafted a solution that respects democracy and protected the health of their citizens. We must do the same."

Contact Mary Spicuzza at (414) 224-2324 or mary.spicuzza@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MSpicuzzaMJS.