News

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission today voted unanimously to order a recall election for Trempealeau County District Attorney in response to a recall petition. The Commission ordered the recall election to be held on October 2, 2018. If more than one candidate from a political party runs, a recall partisan primary for that party will be held October 2 and the recall election will be held on November 6, 2018, concurrent with the 2018 General Election.

MADISON, WI – Very few problems were reported in Tuesday’s Partisan Primary in which nearly 1 million Wisconsin adults voted, according to preliminary results analyzed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission today released its list of the top five things Wisconsin voters should know for the Partisan Primary, Tuesday, August 14. 1. You may only vote for candidates of one party in the primary. Unlike most other states, Wisconsin law gives voters the freedom to choose which political party’s primary they wish to vote in without having to register to vote with a party affiliation or designation. However, they may only vote within one party’s primary on the August ballot.

MADISON, WI – Turnout for Wisconsin’s Partisan Primary over the last decade has averaged 15.23 percent of the voting-age population, ranging from a high of 19.6 percent in 2010 to a low of 8.96 percent in 2008. The Wisconsin Elections Commission does not make turnout predictions, but provides historical data, which is a good predictor. Points to consider:

MADISON, WI – Absentee ballots are available statewide for the August 14 Partisan Primary, and many municipalities are now offering in-person absentee voting during regular business hours, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

MADISON, WI – Wisconsin voters who are temporarily overseas have new options for absentee voting under terms of an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (US-DOJ). Wisconsin’s temporary overseas voters may now receive their absentee ballots electronically – by email or fax – making it easier to vote when they are outside the country. They may now also use the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission is getting ready for midterm elections in 2018 with an initiative to inform voters about registration opportunities. “Nearly one in 11 Wisconsin adults will soon be getting an official postcard in the mail urging them to register to vote before the election,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief elections official. “Getting people to register early helps reduce lines and make Election Day better for voters and election workers.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission office will be open Friday evening and on Saturday to provide copies of documents needed to file challenges to candidates’ nomination papers. Friday, June 1, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers to get on the ballot for the August 14 Partisan Primary and the November 6 General Election. After paperwork has been filed, opposing candidates and political parties have the opportunity to examine nomination papers to see whether there are any errors they may wish to challenge.

Friday, June 1, 2018 at 5 p.m. is the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers to get on the ballot for the August 14 Partisan Primary and the November 6 General Election. As always, members of the news media are welcome to cover this deadline by staking out the Wisconsin Elections Commission office in Madison, but all the information needed will be available on the agency’s website.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission will hold a special meeting on Wednesday, April 18, to discuss plans to spend nearly $7 million in federal 2018 Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Election Security Fund grants.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission today ordered a recount in the election for Sauk County Circuit Court Judge, Branch 3. In the April 3 Spring Election, Pat Barret received 5,700 votes and Sandra Cardo Gorsuch received 5,673 votes, according to the official canvass. Gorsuch filed a petition with the Elections Commission for a recount today. Because the margin is less than 0.25 percent, Gorsuch is entitled to a free recount.

MADISON, WI – Very few problems were reported in Tuesday’s Spring Election in which more than 22 percent of Wisconsin adults voted, according to preliminary results analyzed by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. “Even though there was a snowstorm over some parts of the state and higher than normal turnout in other parts, the Elections Commission received very few complaints about problems at polling places,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official.

MADISON, WI – The State of Wisconsin is eligible to receive nearly $7 million in federal 2018 HAVA Election Security Fund grants, according to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Congress recently appropriated $380 million to be distributed to the states to improve election administration, including technology enhancements and election security. Wisconsin’s share of the funds is $6,978,318, to be matched by $348,916 in state dollars, for a total of $7,327,234, according to US-EAC.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds voters to bring an acceptable photo ID when they go to the polls for the Spring Election on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. “Most people already have the ID they need to vote,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “If you don’t have a photo ID, you still have time to get a free one at the DMV, but you should not wait.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission has approved the use of new supplemental poll books for the April 3 Spring Election so that all eligible voters can cast a ballot. “If you are a registered voter but your name is not on the regular poll list, poll workers will look for you on the supplemental poll list,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “If your name is there, you will receive a ballot if you sign the supplemental poll list affirming that your address has not changed.”

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission today named Meagan Wolfe of Madison to serve as interim administrator of the agency and Wisconsin’s chief election official. Wolfe, who has been assistant administrator since April 2017, will begin work immediately.

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Elections Commission issued the following statement to NBC Nightly News more than a week prior to their story Tuesday about cyber security:

MADISON, Wis. – Michael Haas has informed the Wisconsin Elections Commission that he will no longer pursue continuing as administrator and urged commissioners to appoint a new administrator at their meeting Friday. Haas said he plans to continue working temporarily as a staff counsel for the WEC, but intends to eventually leave the agency to pursue other opportunities.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission is investigating isolated reports that some voters had to reregister at the polls Tuesday before they could vote. “We are looking into reports and gathering information from our records, from clerks and from voters to figure out what happened,” said Michael Haas, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “Our goal is to ensure there are no problems at the Spring Election on April 3 or the August Partisan Primary or the General Election in November.”