An unofficial tally from the Wisconsin Elections Commission shows voter turnout was higher in Tuesday’s primary election than it was in February 2018.
In northern Wisconsin, some counties reported significant spikes in the number of ballots cast thanks to the primary race in the 7th Congressional District special election.
A preliminary estimate of turnout provided Wednesday by Wisconsin Elections Commission spokesperson Reid Magney suggests at least 703,762 voters participated in the statewide Wisconsin Supreme Court primary race between incumbent Justice Daniel Kelly, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Jill Karofsky and Marquette Law School professor Ed Fallone.
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According to Magney, that works out to a turnout of around 15.6 percent of the state’s voting age population. Turnout was just under 12 percent during a state Supreme Court primary in February 2018.
In Dane County, 88,060 voters cast ballots Tuesday. Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said it was a relatively strong showing by voters considering what was on the ballot.
“Two years ago, there was Supreme Court at the top of the ballot, and this is about 10,000 more voters,” McDonell said. “So, I mean, that’s not insignificant.”
Kelly will face off against Karofsky in the April 7 election.
RELATED: Daniel Kelly, Jill Karofsky Emerge From State Supreme Court Primary
In the city of Milwaukee, 123,285 voters turned out.
Milwaukee Elections Commission executive director Neil Albrecht said that is slightly higher than numbers from February 2016. He said he prefers to compare this year’s totals with those from the last presidential cycle because a number of high-profile city races for offices like county executive happen during presidential election years.
Albrecht said it’s likely local voters were energized by a host of city elections. But he said turnout appears to be recovering after a dip he attributes to the creation of Wisconsin’s Voter ID law.
“I think that indicates a return to voting for a lot of people,” Albrecht said. “We saw a big dip in 2016 when the state’s photo ID requirement was put into place, particularly in communities in poverty in Milwaukee. I think people have had an opportunity to sort of adjust to and plan around the photo ID requirement and are returning to the polls and voting with enthusiasm.”
Seventh Congressional Race Boosts Turnout
Some counties in northern Wisconsin saw significant spikes in voter turnout Tuesday compared to prior years.
In Marathon County, 14,437 more ballots were cast Tuesday than in February 2018. Marathon County Clerk Kim Trueblood said that works out to more than 31 percent of registered voters.
RELATED: Tom Tiffany Will Face Tricia Zunker In 7th Congressional District Special Election
“I think the big driving factor was the 7th Congressional District primary,” Trueblood said. “There was a lot of enthusiasm, I think, on both sides but probably more so on the Republican side between Sen. Tiffany and Jason Church.”
Republican State Sen. Tom Tiffany of Minocqua beat Jason Church, an Afghanistan War veteran and former staffer for Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson. Tiffany will face Democratic nominee Tricia Zunker, a Ho-Chunk Supreme Court justice who is also president of the Wausau School Board. Zunker beat Lawrence Dale.
In Douglas County, which marks the northwestern reach of the 7th Congressional District, turnout reached nearly 27 percent of registered voters. That’s an increase of 4,219 votes compared to February 2018.
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