Surge in Early Voting in Wisconsin Ahead of Historic Supreme Court Race
Wisconsin has seen an 80% increase in early in-person voting for the April 1 election, highlighted by a historic $76 million Supreme Court race. As of now, over 86,000 residents have cast early absentee votes, with total early absentee ballots reaching approximately 193,143. The state’s voting trends display significant political involvement and interest among voters, with notable activity across various counties.
Wisconsin is experiencing a significant increase in early voting as residents gear up for the April 1 election, particularly notable for the state’s unprecedented Supreme Court race projected to cost $76 million, according to WisPolitics. Chief Political Reporter Charles Benson has diligently tracked the early voting developments since they commenced this week.
Early voting numbers, while not definitive indicators of overall election turnout, reflect a growing interest in this crucial election, which has drawn substantial financial support from wealthy donors across the political spectrum. As of Friday, 86,421 residents participated in in-person absentee voting at their local clerks’ offices, marking an 80% rise compared to two years prior for a Spring Election.
The total count of early absentee ballots reached 193,143, significantly higher than the 138,800 ballots cast during a notable Supreme Court race in April 2023. Furthermore, 455,000 absentee ballot applications have been submitted, exceeding the 453,000 absentee ballots recorded in the 2023 election, which saw a total turnout of 1.8 million votes with liberal candidate Judge Janet Protasiewicz winning by an 11-point margin.
It is critical to acknowledge that absentee ballots will remain uncounted until Election Day. Among early voting trends, Dane County, a Democratic bastion, has reported the highest number of early absentee votes, while Waukesha County, a Republican-leaning area, has noted the most in-person voting activity to date.
As early voting escalates, attention turns to Wisconsin where constituents are poised to participate robustly in this significant election.
In summary, Wisconsin’s early voting for the upcoming April 1 election has surged notably, with a remarkable 80% increase compared to prior Spring Elections. The anticipated Supreme Court race has garnered immense financial backing, signaling heightened political engagement among voters. The diverse voting patterns across counties further illustrate the electorate’s dynamic involvement. Observers remain keenly focused on the electoral impact of this unprecedented interest.
Original Source: www.tmj4.com
