News

Madison, WI – Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief elections official, will hold an on-the-record briefing for news media at 1 p.m. Friday, November 2. The number to call is 1-855-947-8255, and the passcode is 8498 252#. Wolfe will start by discussing preparations for Tuesday’s General Election, but is mostly available to answer your questions.

MADISON, WI – Meagan Wolfe, interim administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, today released a statement regarding candidates and political parties using the MyVote website: MyVote Wisconsin is voters’ best source of information about when and where to vote, what’s on the ballot, absentee voting and voter registration. Other websites or groups offering similar information may not be as accurate.

MADISON, WI – As Election Day approaches on November 6, voter registration and absentee ballot mailings have begun arriving in Wisconsin residents’ mailboxes. Wisconsin voters’ best sources of information about voter registration and absentee voting are their local clerks and the MyVote.WI.gov website, not mailings from political and independent groups, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission this week enhanced election security by approving a significant expansion of post-election audits to ensure the integrity of voting systems. The Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to require audits of voting equipment in 5 percent of the state’s wards, including at least one in each of the 72 counties, and require completion of the audits before the Commission certifies the final results.

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission is asking local election officials and the public for ideas to improve election security using new federal funding. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has committed about half the $6.9 million grant money to hiring six new staff members over four years ($2.4 million) and new technology ($1 million) to meet immediate security needs before the 2018 General Election and beyond.

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.