Only 20 Percent Turnout Expected Statewide for Tuesday’s Election

Wisconsin’s state elections board is expecting statewide voter turnout of only about 20 percent for Tuesday’s election.

The Government Accountability Board is predicting the low turnout despite the publicity surrounding the Supreme Court race between incumbent Ann Walsh Bradley and Rock County Judge James Daley.

“Typically when we have a contested race for Supreme Court, there is right around 18, 19, 20 percent turnout,” said the GAB’s Reid Magney.

Magney said other contests and local referendum questions could make turnout higher in some spots.

“We’ve got more than 10,000 candidates on the ballot across the state,” he said. “The Madison mayor’s race, that will certainly drive turnout. If there’s a local mayoral race, school bonding referendums, and tax levy referendums — it really depends on whether there are hot issues.”

An ID will not be required to cast a ballot Tuesday, although a voter ID law will likely be enforced in future elections.