Voting Resumes Outside Madison East High As Bomb Squad Sweeps School

Madison East High School was evacuated around 11:40 a.m. following a morning bomb threat, and the school is on lockdown as a sweep is conducted, officials said.

But voting has resumed in the street outside the building.

The Dane County bomb squad was called in and was doing an "assessment on a package that had been left behind," according to Madison police spokesperson Carlos Valentine.

Meanwhile, George Twigg, spokesman for Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, said voting booths were opened on the streets outside the high school around 1:15 p.m.

"Hopefully, this won't put a damper on turnout," Twigg said, explaining that voters were unable to cast ballots for an hour or two. He said that workers were urging lunchtime voters to either stay or come back later in the day.

"We're waiting for an an all clear from the police department, and hopefully that will take place soon," Twigg said.

-- By Alec Loftus