The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board is predicting voter turnout of 20 percent for the Spring Election on Tuesday, April 2.
Wisconsin’s voters will choose among 9,587 candidates for 6,768 state and local offices, as well vote in 76 different local referenda.
“While there is much focus on the statewide elections for Supreme Court Justice and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Spring Elections are the people’s chance to have their say about local government and schools,” said Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel of the GAB. “These local officials and referenda can have an effect on people’s taxes and the quality of life.”
Commenting on the turnout projection, Kennedy said: “With the exception of 2011, turnout for Spring Elections with contested Wisconsin Supreme Court races has ranged from 18.2 percent to 20.9 percent of eligible voters over the last decade. We expect this year’s turnout to be in that range.”
In comparison, turnout in April 2011 at the height of the Capitol protests was 34.3 percent. Turnout at the November 2012 Presidential Election was 70.1 percent.
Throughout the state, local races include elections for 29 circuit court judges as well as 43 mayors, 375 village presidents, and 1,182 town board chairpersons.
There are 614 school board seats up for election and 52 school district referenda.
To find out which candidates and referendums they will see on the ballot, voters should visit the MyVote Wisconsin website: http://myvote.wi.gov. Registered voters can put in their name and date of birth to see their record and what is on their ballot. Voters planning to register at the polls on Election Day can use the Address Search feature to find their polling place and see sample ballots for their city, village or town.
Elections Division Administrator Michael Haas reminded voters who plan to register on Election Day to bring an acceptable proof of residence document with them. “You can use a current and valid Wisconsin driver license or identification card that has your current address,” Haas said. “But there are many other kinds of documents that work as well, including property tax bills, utility bills, bank statements and paychecks.” A full list of acceptable documents is available here: http://gab.wi.gov/publications/voter-guides/proof-of-residence.
Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
-
-
-
-
-