WOW counties & deep-blue areas seeing surge in early voting
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Interest in early voting is surging across the battleground state ahead of the April 1st election.
After one week of in-person, absentee voting, the number of ballots returned to clerks is up significantly across the state with an increase of 48% compared to two years ago. That according to the latest data from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
It comes as this year's state Supreme Court contest has gained national attention with historic spending, influential endorsements, and issues like abortion, union rights, and congressional maps at stake.
Susan Crawford, backed by Democrats, will face off against the conservative candidate Brad Schimel on Tuesday. Voters will decide the ideological balance of the court where liberals currently hold a 4-3 advantage.
As of Wednesday, voter turnout is exceeding expectations in deep blue and heavily reliable red continues compared to the 2023 spring election when another pivotal state Supreme Court race was on the ballot.
Anthony Chergosky, an associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, said the national significance of the race could be a factor as to why as many view the contest as a litmus test of President Donald Trump's second term.
"The election two years ago did not take on the political significance that this election seems to be taking on because President Trump and Elon Musk want to show their political strength," Chergosky said.
President Donald Trump and his billionaire advisor Elon Musk have endorsed Schimel in the contest. Meanwhile, Crawford has the backing of former President Barack Obama and other Democratic megadonors including George Soros.
Some counties seeing the highest increase in absentee ballots returned this year than 2023 are Republican-leaning areas in the Milwaukee suburbs. Those include Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington, the WOW counties.
Waukesha saw more than 51,000 absentee ballots returned compared to 31,000 during the 2023 spring election. In Ozaukee, an uptick of nearly 61% of absentee ballots we're returned.
In Washington, the most reliable-red county out of the three, has seen more than double the number of ballots returned than two years ago.
Chergosky said it's likely due to more Republicans embracing early voting in recent elections.
"I think their message [on voting before Election Day] is getting through and that's big for the Republican party," he said.
Dane and Milwaukee, Democratic stronghold counties, also saw an uptick of absentee ballots returned so far. Milwaukee County has the most ballots returned with over 64,000 as of Tuesday, accounting for a 59% increase.
Dane County also saw a 60% uptick with more than 63,000 ballots returned from 42,000 in 2023.
It's unclear whether these absentee, in-person early voting statistics give either party an edge or can predict higher turnout on Election Day than 2023.
That's because officials do not track whether this surge is linked to new voters, those who participate in every election or those who typically don't in non-presidential years.
Preparations
Ann Jacobs, the Democratic chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said clerks have received additional guidance ahead of the election to ensure "every absentee ballot is accounted for."
It comes after Milwaukee and Madison came under fire for mishaps during the 2024 presidential election. The Madison City Clerk was recently put on leave after pending an investigation into how nearly 200 absentee ballots went uncounted during the November election.
Election officials in Milwaukee also had to recount more than 30,000 absentee ballots because doors on the ballot tabulators were not properly sealed.
"We are aware at WEC there are concerns that mistakes have been made in past elections," Jacob said. "I do want to reassure people that our clerks are ready for this election. We have sent out detailed instructions to make sure no absentee ballot goes uncounted."
Trump's Executive Order on Elections
Jacobs said a new executive order signed by President Trump seeking to reshape elections will not have any impact on the April 1st or likely future elections in Wisconsin.
For example, the executive order mandates "government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship" on voter registration forms, but Wisconsin is already exempt from using the form.
The order also threatens to take federal funding away from states if they don't comply with a series of actions. In Wisconsin, elections are funded by the state.