Wausau Moves Polling Site for Districts 7 and 8 to Marathon Park in 2026

The change is necessary due to construction at the current polling location, St. Mark's Lutheran Church.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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Voters in four wards in north central Wausau will cast ballots at a new polling place beginning with the 2026 spring election. The Public Health and Safety Committee unanimously approved the proposal to move the polling site for Wards 17, 18, 19, and 20 (which make up Districts 7 and 8) to Marathon Park East Gate Hall, a county-owned facility that already serves as a polling place for two other districts.

Why it matters

The current polling location at St. Mark's Lutheran Church will be unavailable in 2026 due to a construction project, necessitating the move to a new site. Finding a suitable polling place that meets accessibility and space requirements has been challenging for the city clerk's office.

The details

The city clerk's office has been searching for a new polling location for the past nine months after learning St. Mark's Lutheran Church would be unavailable. The proposed new site at Marathon Park East Gate Hall already serves as a polling place for two other districts with historically low voter turnout, and the space will be reconfigured to maximize entryways and add more electronic poll books to help reduce wait times.

  • The change will take effect starting with the 2026 spring election.
  • The city clerk's office has been searching for a new polling location for the past nine months.

The players

Kaitlyn Bernarde

Wausau City Clerk who proposed the move to Marathon Park East Gate Hall.

Sarah Watson

Dist. 8 Alder who asked whether the move would be temporary.

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What they’re saying

“I've been looking for probably about like last nine months to find a new home for the voters who live in wards 17, 18, 19, and 20.”

— Kaitlyn Bernarde, Wausau City Clerk (wausaupilotandreview.com)

“We are still on the lookout for a permanent home.”

— Kaitlyn Bernarde, Wausau City Clerk (wausaupilotandreview.com)

What’s next

The proposal to move the polling site for Districts 7 and 8 to Marathon Park East Gate Hall still requires approval from the Wausau City Council, which is scheduled to vote on it next week.

The takeaway

Finding a suitable polling place that meets accessibility and space requirements has been an ongoing challenge for the Wausau city clerk's office. The move to Marathon Park represents a temporary solution, as the office continues to search for a permanent location for these voters.