Tuesday’s election is unlike any other

Voters must deal with crossover temptation, fake candidates

By Ed Nadolski

Editor in chief

Local voters have a chance to make history Tuesday when polls open for primaries in the unprecedented recall elections for governor, lieutenant governor and four state senate seats.

However, with the ballot dotted with “placeholder” or “fake” candidates – and the state’s open primary rules allowing them to cross party lines if they desire – voters need to do their homework before entering the voting booth.

Locally, voters will be able to cast their ballots for Republican or Democrat candidates for governor, Democrat candidates for lieutenant governor, and Democrat candidates for the District 21 state Senate seat – which includes voters in the Village of Rochester and towns of Dover, Norway, Raymond and Yorkville.

That’s the easy part. Keeping track of the all the candidates – and whether they are legitimate representatives of their parties – is more of a challenge.

Racine County Clerk Wendy Christensen reminded voters this week that although it’s an open primary, they’re only allowed to vote once for each office. That means for the gubernatorial primary – which features competition in both major parties – voters must cast their vote in one party or the other. Those who vote in both the Republican and Democrat primaries for governor will have their ballot rejected by the optical scanning machines.

Christensen said voters will have a chance to fill out a new ballot in those instances and their original ballot will be destroyed.

Crossover votes likely

The open primary format has led people throughout the state to speculate whether voters will legally cross party lines in an attempt to influence the outcome of the opposing party’s primary.

That possibility has been widely discussed by Republicans because incumbent Gov. Scott Walker faces token opposition from 23-year-old Abraham Lincoln impersonator Arthur Kohl-Riggs, whom most have written off as a “fake” Republican candidate.

Kohl-Riggs – who dressed as Lincoln during last year’s capitol budget protests – has publicly called himself a legitimate candidate with a purpose: to make sure Walker has some opposition to reduce the chance his Republican supporters will use their votes to influence the Democrat primary.

That race features the highest stakes and is generating the most interest from members of both parties statewide because it will determine the Democrat who will oppose Walker in the June 5 recall election.

Frontrunners Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk are challenged by State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and Secretary of State Doug La Follette as well as “fake” Democrat Gladys Huber, an 80-year-old from Mequon.

Senate primary

Unlike the governor’s race, the District 21 state Senate election does not feature races in both major parties. Democrat John Lehman of Racine is challenged by “fake” Democrat Tamra Varebrook of Union Grove. The winner advances to face incumbent Republican Van Wanggaard on June 5.

Lehman, who has the backing of the Democratic Party, lost to Wanggaard in the 2010 election after holding the seat for four years.

The 21st District does not include the cities and towns of Burlington and Waterford.

While some people decry the presence of “fake” candidates on the ballot, others contend the primaries ensure all the elections will be held on the same date – potentially saving elections costs and creating what many believe is a level playing field for the leading candidates.

In the end, the Government Accountability Board ruled that it would allow the candidates who were challenged as “fakes” to appear on the ballot because state law does not require people seeking office to prove they are a member of a particular political party.

The other race on the ballot  – for lieutenant governor – is a Democrat primary featuring Mahlon Mitchell of Madison, Ira Robins of Milwaukee and “fake” Democrat Isaac Weix.

The winner will face incumbent Republican Rebecca Kleefisch on June 5.

No voter ID

County Clerk Christensen said last week she was prepared for a robust turnout, but had no predictions as to how many will show up at the polls. “I believe we ordered enough ballots for a fairly heavy turnout,” she said. The Government Accountability Board predicted late last week a turnout in the 30-35 percent range.

Christensen estimated the county’s cost of the recall elections – both Tuesday and June 5 – will total $190,000. With additional costs for local municipalities added, she speculated it will cost county taxpayers more than $250,000 to finance the recall.

“That’s a rough, conservative estimate,” she said.

On thing voters will not have to concern themselves with is the state’s voter identification law, which requires voters to show a state-approved ID before receiving a ballot.

The law is currently suspended as it remains tied up in a legal challenge. GAB officials said it will not be in effect Tuesday.

Voters have until Friday at 5 p.m. to submit absentee ballots for the primary to their municipal clerks.

On Tuesday polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

For additional information on local voting procedures see the sample ballot included in this edition or contact the clerk in your municipality.