4:24 pm CT
In Wauwatosa, adjacent polling sites have friendly rivalry, similar turnout
Bridget Fogarty
A steady stream of voters and school kids walked through Wauwatosa City Hall, home to two city polling sites, between 3 and 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
By around 3:20 p.m., about 1,000 voters had cast their ballots in the Civic Center Auditorium and about 1,048 people had voted in the adjacent public library Firefly Room.
“We run a little ahead of them,” John Hartwick, chief inspector at the library site, said, joking that the two sites have a playful rivalry to get the most voters.
Wauwatosa voters this year followed the pattern of early voting that site chief inspector Melina Biese said she’s noticed in previous elections.
At the polls, people have had a determination to vote in an election that’s “been politicized,” she said.
Wauwatosa School District alum Ali Meisinger, 21, showed up to support women candidates, including her friend’s mom, school board candidate Shannon Malnory-Silbernagel.
“I just really would like to see more women on the school board,” she said.
Jeff Meckstroth, who works in the electric industry and has lived in Wauwatosa for the last seven years, said the high-profile Wisconsin Supreme Court race drove him to the polls this election. He’s not fond of the excessive messaging and marketing that comes with elections.
“That’s generally my biggest excitement — for this to all be over, no matter the outcome and to play an active role in voting,” he said.
3:58 pm CT
How late are polls open in Wisconsin today?
Maia Pandey
There’s just a few hours left before polls close in Wisconsin’s spring election. Polls close at 8 p.m.
On the ballot are hotly contested Supreme Court and state schools superintendent races, along with a range of local races for county judges, school boards, city councils.
If you haven’t voted yet, here’s how and where you can do so before polls close tonight.
3:30 pm CT
Four candidates running for two seats on Oak Creek-Franklin School Board
Alec Johnson
Candidates running for the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board cited a variety of issues they feel need to be addressed in the district.
Incumbent Frank Carini said the safety of students and staff at Oak Creek High School still needs attention. Challenger Genene Hibbler sees a greater need for “transparent and collaborative board development and governance policies,” while challenger Brianna Allen Kaiser would like to see a geater focus on mental health.
Incumbent Jerry Krist did not respond to questions posed to candidates.
Carini, Krist, Hibbler and Kaiser are running for two seats on the board.
Here’s what to know about the Oak Creek-Franklin School Board race.
3:00 pm CT
Like last year, two blocs of Waukesha School Board candidates square off in election
Alec Johnson
Although school board races are supposed to be nonpartisan, the six candidates seeking three seats on the Waukesha School Board seem to be facing off along party lines.
Incumbents Karrie Kozlowski and Thomas Harland are being challenged by Angelique Byrne, Natalie Grehn, Stephanie Fidlin and Samuel D’Amico. Harland was appointed in September to fill the seat left vacant by Marquell Moorer’s resignation last July. Incumbent Mark Borowski is not seeking reelection.
The dynamics of this year’s school board election are similar to last year’s election in that the candidates have supported each other and have basically formed two blocs.
Here’s what to know about the Waukesha School Board race.
2:34 pm CT
In deep blue Shorewood, some voters hope to send a message to Elon Musk
Mary Spicuzza
Voters in the village of Shorewood turned out in droves to vote Tuesday. And many of them said they had billionaire Elon Musk on their minds.
“I feel like the country is taking a cultural step back backwards, and I want to do all I can to push back on that. I feel like Brad Schimel is a step in the wrong direction,” Damian Buege, 20, said. “I’m anti-election interference. I think that Brad Schimel’s gotten a lot of assistance from outside factors that maybe he shouldn’t have.”
He called Musk’s involvement in the race “horrible.”
“He’s not even an elected official. He’s, if anything, more of an aristocrat,” Buege said. “I just think that he has no place in government, period, as well as in local elections or statewide elections.”
Voter turnout was notably high in Shorewood, a heavily Democratic village in Milwaukee County just north of the City of Milwaukee.
Janet Kreilein, the chief inspector at the Shorewood Village Center, said 3,571 people had returned absentee ballots by Monday. That amounted to 88% of the 4,043 absentee ballots requested, and ballots were still being dropped off on Election Day.
Ballots can be returned until the polls close at 8 p.m.
“It is going very well,” she said. “It is very busy for an April election. We’ve had a very strong turnout this morning, and strong absentee numbers as well.”
Hundreds had already voted in person by 1 p.m. at the village center.
2:31 pm CT
Shirley Bearden voted to send a message to Trump and Elon Musk
La Risa R. Lynch
Shirley Bearden made sure she cast her ballot at the Embassy Center MKE. Several issues brought her out today, including education and the cost-cutting measures happening in the federal government. But she wanted to send a clear message to President Trump and Elon Musk that you can’t buy an election.
“The women need their rights,” she said. “The young people now don’t have as many rights as we had when I was coming up. And I don’t agree with Elon coming to pay people to vote when you can’t hand water to people when in line to vote. So there are a lot of issues.”
“This election is important,” she added.
2:30 pm CT
Oak Creek District 1 candidates discuss businesses coming and going
Erik S. Hanley
Residents in Oak Creek District 1 are getting a new alderperson this spring.
Incumbent Steve Kurkowski chose not to run, so newcomers Zachary Hittman and Alicia Haase are the two choices on the ballot in Tuesday’s election.
To help voters learn more about the candidates, the Journal Sentinel posed the same three questions to each candidate and candidates were given a 100-word limit for their responses.
Here’s what to know about the candidates.
2:18 pm CT
Polling at Milwaukee Embassy Center sees steady turnout
La Risa R. Lynch
The polls at Embassy Center MKE have been busy. By early afternoon 233 votes have been casted.
Linda Nichols, the polling place chief inspector said there has been a steady stream of people coming through the doors. That’s usual for an election for judges, she said.
“I expected a lot less,” Nichols said. The publicity around the state’s Supreme Court race between Susan Crawford and Brad Schimel could be the reason, she said.
“It really been out there this year. Everywhere you turn there has been a lot of publicity this election,” Nichols said. “I didn’t expect to see this kind of turn out.”
2:11 pm CT
Milwaukee on pace for ‘record breaking’ turnout for spring election
Ricardo Torres
Paulina Gutierrez, executive director of the Milwaukee Elections Commission, said the city is on pace for a “historic turnout” for a spring election.
“We’ve seen just over 21,000 voters visit our polling locations today,” Gutierrez said outside of central count at 1901 South Kinnickinic Ave.
The city has issued 55,098 early and absentee ballots and has received 48,401 ballots. Gutierrez said, as of noon, about 32% of early and absentee ballots have been processed.
“We can continue to receive ballots throughout the day. We have drop boxes open until 6 p.m. and then people can drop off their ballot here at central count until 8 p.m. and at city hall until 7 p.m.,” Gutierrez said.
In terms of when officials will be done counting ballots at central count, Gutierrez expects counting will be done after midnight on Wednesday.
In 2023, during the last state supreme court election, Gutierrez said there were about 13,000 ballots cast during early voting. This election, there have been more than 20,000 ballots cast during early voting.
“In comparison to 2023, this is record breaking,” Gutierrez said.
2:00 pm CT
Port Washington City Council candidates talk data center, development and city issues
Claudia Levens
Two Port Washington natives are vying for the city’s District 3 Common Council seat in Tuesday’s election.
Incumbent Michael Gasper is a civil engineer with over 20 years of experience working on roads and municipal projects, eight years of experience on the Common Council and a fascination with urban and city planning.
His challenger, politics newcomer Billy Schwalbe, spent several years working in finance before purchasing the Schooner Pub.
Here’s what to know about the candidates.
1:30 pm CT
Two incumbents, two newcomers seek three open Elm Grove trustee spots
Bridget Fogarty
What the village of Elm Grove will look like in the future hinges on development and pedestrian safety decisions that are on the minds of the two incumbents and two challengers each seeking one of three spots up for grabs in Tuesday’s election.
The Journal Sentinel interviewed incumbents Tom Castile and Kristina Sayas, as well as candidate Jim Olson on the phone. Candidate Eric Peter was unavailable for a phone call and sent a reporter answers to questions.
1:00 pm CT
What to know about Wisconsin schools superintendent candidates
Hope Karnopp
Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin includes a race for state school superintendent, who advocates for K-12 education as the leader of the Department of Public Instruction.
Like the state Supreme Court race also on the ballot, the superintendent election is nonpartisan in name only. The state Democratic and Republican parties have lined up behind their preferred candidates and pumped donations into their campaigns.
Education consultant Brittany Kinser said she considers herself a moderate and is supported by Republicans. She’s challenging Jill Underly, a Democrat running for her second term.
The state superintendent will guide school districts at a critical time. Students are recovering from pandemic-associated learning loss, racial achievement gaps are among the widest in the nation and more districts are going to referendum.
Here’s what to know about Jill Underly
Here’s what to know about Brittany Kinser
12:30 pm CT
Wisconsin’s nationalized Supreme Court race presents a unique test
Craig Gilbert
Partisan politics is no stranger to big court races in Wisconsin. But this year’s state Supreme Court contest has entered uncharted territory.
It’s not only the most expensive and partisan in state history. It is the first time both sides have worked so hard to nationalize a spring judicial election.
That doesn’t make this race a referendum on the Trump tariffs or Elon Musk’s assault on the federal workforce. We’re still electing a Wisconsin judge here.
But it does make this April 1 election a different kind of political test.
Read more about the impact of the Supreme Court race.
12:07 pm CT
Voters say abortion and cuts to federal funding pushed them to the polls
Tamia Fowlkes
At South Division High School in Milwaukee, 28 voters cast ballots before noon.
The turnout is significantly higher than most elections, said Freddie Franklin, the site’s chief elections inspector. He believes the heightened enthusiasm can be attributed to the high stakes Supreme Court race.
“I mean, we generally have 30 people at the end of the day and we’ve had 25 by 11:00, so it’s exceeding my expectations,” Franklin said.
Annette Serrano, 53, said she decided to cast her ballot because of potential threats to abortion rights and cuts to federal funding.
“I sometimes help out shelters and stuff like that, and I know that there are a lot of people who depend on the resources that we have,” Serrano said. “I know that our resources are in jeopardy, especially, you know, in this race and with this new government.”
62-year-old Bernardina Delgado Salgado echoed similar sentiments.
“Yo voto para mujeres,” she said, detailing that her vote was for young women who might be impacted by limitations on abortion rights.
12:00 pm CT
Partisan support divided among six candidates for Cedarburg School Board
Alec Johnson
Incumbents Laura Stroebel and Elizabeth Charland, along with challengers Paul Demczak, Brooke Justinger, Heidi Laurila and Gina Tozer will face off in Tuesday’s general election, after advancing from the Feb. 18 primary.
The candidates appear to be running in two blocs, with Charland, Demczak and Stroebel on one side and Justinger, Laurila and Tozer on the other.
Here’s what to know about the Cedarburg School Board candidates.
11:51 am CT
Milwaukee Central Count operating ‘smoothly’
Ricardo Torres
More than 55,000 absentee ballots have been issued in the city of Milwaukee for the spring election and so far it’s on track for an 85% turnout rate, according to Paulina Gutierrez, head of the city’s election commission.
“There are a lot of ballots, but things are running relatively smoothly,” Gutierrez said, adding there have not been any issues with election observers. “They’re doing great. They play a really important role, I’m happy they’re here.”
Gutierrez doesn’t know when the count will be finished, but said she would have a better sense this afternoon.
“There are always unexpected things that happen,” Gutierrez said. “The best thing about election administration is there are always checks and balances, and we can always problem solve where we need to.”
11:30 am CT
Wisconsin officials remind voters of election date after third-party mailers give wrong date
Molly Beck
Wisconsin election officials are reminding voters of the correct date of the April 1 spring election after receiving reports of third-party groups sending misleading mailers and other campaign materials with the wrong election date.
In one case, some Wisconsin voters have received postcards designed to appear to support liberal state Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford and telling voters to vote in an April 11 election — 10 days after the real election date.
11:00 am CT
Are Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates’ sentencing attacks relevant?
Alison Dirr
Wisconsin’s Supreme Court candidates have spent much of the monthslong campaign launching allegations about each other’s sentencing practices as circuit court judges — but experts cautioned that this line of attack doesn’t tell voters all that much about what kind of justice either would be.
The circuit court positions the candidates currently hold and the Supreme Court position they’re seeking are very different, said Marquette University Law School professor Chad Oldfather. Unlike circuit court judges, the seven justices aren’t sentencing anyone or involved on a day-to-day basis in the implementation of the criminal justice system, he said.
Conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, a former Republican state attorney general, and liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford are battling for a seat on the court. Which candidate voters choose Tuesday will determine whether liberals retain control of the court or the majority flips back to conservatives.
Both candidates have defended the attack ads, saying they offer voters information about their opponent.
Here’s more about the issue of criminal cases in campaign ads.
10:30 am CT
What to know about the Wisconsin state schools superintendent candidates
Kelly Meyerhofer
Voters will decide whether State Superintendent Jill Underly deserves a second term or political newcomer Brittany Kinser should be the next state schools chief.
The two candidates face off April 1. In-person absentee voting, also known as early voting, began March 18.
The state superintendent plays a pivotal role in advocating for K-12 education statewide as the head of the Department of Public Instruction. The next superintendent will lead throughout President Donald Trump’s second term as he seeks to dismantle the federal education department and send more power back to the states.
The office is officially nonpartisan, though partisan groups have poured money into the race. Underly is backed by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Kinser calls herself a moderate who is backed by conservatives.
Here’s what to know about the candidates.
10:00 am CT
See what Milwaukee area school districts have spending referendums on the April ballot
Alec Johnson
While the state Supreme Court race and state Department of Public Instruction superintendent are the two big races on the minds of Wisconsin voters this spring, some suburban Milwaukee voters will also have school referendums to decide on.
Voters in the Arrowhead Union High School and Lake Country school districts in Waukesha County and Port Washington-Saukville School District in Ozaukee County will vote whether to give their school districts additional funds for either building projects or daily operating costs.
Here’s what to know about the school referendums.
9:46 am CT
Election Day voting begins on Milwaukee’s east side
Claire Reid
As of around 8:45 a.m., 81 people have voted at Arlington Court Apartments, election official Shana Lucas said. The apartment complex, located at 1633 N. Arlington Place, is the polling place for Ward 178 residents on Milwaukee’s east side.
Lucas said a modest line of about a dozen people had formed outside the polling place by 7 a.m., when the polls opened. Since then, the voter count has been “steady,” with between three and five people voting in the lobby at any given time.
Throughout the mid-morning, many voters walked to the polls from their homes, including some from just across the street. Signs in front of the apartment complex along North Arlington Place inform voters that they can take advantage of 15-minute free parking from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
One election observer was at the Arlington Court site Tuesday morning, and Lucas said all but two voters were already registered when they arrived.
Prior to Tuesday, Lucas said about 250 Ward 178 residents cast their ballots early. She said the ward is home to 1530 registered voters.
9:30 am CT
MPS school board candidates answer questions on policing, test scores, district finances
Cleo Krejci
For Milwaukee Public Schools, the past year has included financial audits, a new superintendent, a high-profile lawsuit over policing, reports of serious academic achievement gaps, schools temporarily closed due to lead hazards, President Donald Trump’s orders affecting K-12 education and more.
In the April 1 election, four of nine seats on the school board responsible for managing the district’s policies, finances and more will appear on voters’ ballots. Of those four races, only one has multiple candidates.
That race is for the Board of School Directors seat representing District 7, with Molly Kuether-Steele and Kate Vannoy competing to represent the southwestern Milwaukee area.
Here’s what to know about the candidates.
9:00 am CT
Trump’s Wisconsin resurgence will be put to test in Supreme Court race
Molly Beck and Daniel Bice
Donald Trump rode back to the White House in November through Wisconsin, where he was catapulted to the presidency in 2016 and then was blamed for a series of Republican losses in the state afterward.
The staying power of Trump’s new resurgence in the fiercely divided battleground state will be tested for the first time Tuesday in the election for the state Supreme Court and the pitched battle for partisan control of the body — a fight Trump waded into by endorsing Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and holding a public “tele-rally” Thursday to boost support.
The election has drawn record spending and a brighter national spotlight than a spring race has ever been under as Schimel, a conservative, and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, a liberal, battle for control of the court in this battleground state.
With Schimel leaning heavily into Trump’s endorsement, the contest is all but certain to be a referendum on Trump and his first 20 weeks in office and his ally Elon Musk, who has poured millions into Wisconsin’s court race as he becomes a more polarizing figure through his oversight of massive cuts to the federal workforce.
Read more about Trump’s influence on the race.
8:30 am CT
Longtime Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke faces election challenge from former alderman
Adrienne Davis
On April 1, Greenfield Mayor Michael Neitzke will face an opponent who, like him, believes public safety is a critical issue, but the two candidates differ in how they want to accomplish it.
It’s Greenfield’s only contested race.
Neitzke is an attorney who served as alderman in Greenfield from 1998 to 2005 and has been the city’s mayor since 2005.
His opponent, David Scherbarth, is a retiree who has 14 years of political experience as a former alderman of Greenfield.
Here’s what to know about the Greenfield mayor race.
8:00 am CT
What to know about Milwaukee District 3 aldermanic candidates Alex Brower and Daniel Bauman
Vanessa Swales
Two candidates will go head-to-head to win the District 3 seat on Milwaukee’s Common Council left vacant after the November death of Ald. Jonathan Brostoff.
Daniel Bauman and Alex Brower emerged as front-runners from a field of eight candidates after the special primary election in February.
Whoever wins the election will fill the remainder of Brostoff’s term, which ends April 17, 2028, and will make more than $84,200 peryear.
Here’s what to know about the two candidates on the ballot.
7:30 am CT
Here’s what to know about the Wisconsin voter ID referendum
Hope Karnopp
Tuesday’s statewide referendum is asking about voter ID, a decade-old rule in Wisconsin that requires voters to show photo identification at polls or when requesting an absentee ballot.
The question isn’t asking voters whether to get rid of or keep the voter ID law — it will remain in place regardless of the referendum results.
Instead, it’s asking whether Wisconsin should essentially make the law permanent by adding it to the state constitution. That would make it harder for a court to declare voter ID unconstitutional in the future.
7:00 am CT
Polls are open in Wisconsin. When do polls close?
Hope Karnopp
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and they’ll be open until 8 p.m. statewide.
As long as you’re in line at a voting location by 8 p.m., you’ll be allowed to vote.
6:40 am CT
What races on the ballot today for all Wisconsin voters?
Hope Karnopp
Wisconsin has two statewide races today — state Supreme Court and state superintendent. Both are technically nonpartisan, but political parties have lined up behind their preferred candidate.
The two contenders for state Supreme Court are Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, and Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the liberal candidate.
If Crawford wins, the state’s highest court will remain under liberal control. If Schimel wins, the court will regain the conservative majority it lost two years ago. The court will likely be the final voice on issues like abortion and Act 10.
The two candidates for state superintendent — the top K-12 education official in Wisconsin — are Jill Underly, a Democrat running for reelection, and education consultant Brittany Kinser, who considers herself a moderate and is backed by conservatives.
At the bottom of the ballot, all voters will see the following referendum question:
“Photographic identification for voting. Shall section 1m of article III of the constitution be created to require that voters present valid photographic identification verifying their identity in order to vote in any election, subject to exceptions which may be established by law?”
Voting ‘yes’ means you want the state’s voter ID law to be elevated to the state constitution. That would make it harder for a court or lawmakers to strike down the law in the future.
Voting ‘no’ means you don’t want to add the voter ID requirement to the constitution. Choosing ‘no’ isn’t a vote to get rid of voter ID altogether — the law will remain in place regardless of the referendum results.
6:20 am CT
What should I do if I still have an absentee ballot?
Hope Karnopp
If you filled out an absentee ballot and haven’t returned it, it’s too late to put it in the mail. Your clerk must have it by 8 p.m. today for your ballot to count.
It’s a good idea to call your clerk to ask how you should return your ballot today, because some clerks have different preferences. Options may include bringing it to the clerk’s office or your assigned polling place. Some municipalities have drop boxes or central count locations that you may be directed to.
If you live in Milwaukee’s city limits, the Milwaukee Election Commission says remaining absentee ballots can be placed in one of the city’s 14 drop boxes by 6 p.m. or brought to central count at 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. by 8 p.m.
6:00 am CT
Do I need a photo ID to vote in Wisconsin today?
Hope Karnopp
To cast a ballot, you’ll need to show an acceptable photo ID. A full list with more details is available through the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The ID doesn’t need to have your current address.
- Wisconsin driver’s license or instructional permit
- State ID card issued by the DMV
- Military or veteran’s ID card
- Tribal ID card
- U.S. passport
- Certificate of naturalization
- College ID card, if it includes date of issuance, student’s signature and expires no later than two years after it was issued. Some universities issue separate ID cards that fit the requirements.
If you show up to the polls without an ID, you will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot. You’ll need to provide identification to your clerk by 4 p.m. on April 4 for your ballot to count.
Wisconsin DMV service centers are open until 6 p.m. Tuesday to assist voters who need a photo ID. You can find the closest DMV and check wait times on the DOT’s website.
5:40 am CT
Can I register to vote at the polls today?
Hope Karnopp
Yes, you can register at the polls on Election Day in Wisconsin. You can check if you’re registered to vote at myvote.wi.gov.
You need to register if you’re a first-time voter, or re-register if you’ve moved since the last election or legally changed your name.
To register, you need a document called proof of residence that shows you live at your current address. Here are some examples, and a full list is available through the Wisconsin Elections Commission. You can show the document on your phone or bring a hard copy.
- Driver’s license or state ID card, if it has your current address
- Bank or credit card statement
- Paycheck or paystub
- Recent utility bill
- Real estate tax bill or receipt
- Residential lease
You must have lived at the address you want to vote from for at least 28 days, otherwise you should use the polling place assigned to your previous address. More information is available through the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
5:20 am CT
Where is my polling place? Where do I vote today?
Hope Karnopp
Your polling place is assigned based on your address. Type in your address into “Find My Polling Place” at myvote.wi.gov to find your polling location.
Some Milwaukee Public Schools buildings where lead hazards are being remediated serve as polling locations. Voting will take place in new areas of the buildings, away from affected spaces, the city says. More information is available on the city health department website.
5:06 am CT
Milwaukee voters return 46,242 by Monday afternoon
Alison Dirr
Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutiérrez said Monday afternoon that a record 55,116 absentee ballots had been issued, with 46,242 returned.
Both figures far surpass those from April 2023, when another heated and high-stakes state Supreme Court election was on the ballot.
In that race, the city issued 40,232 absentee ballots and received 35,461 of those back.
The city’s drop boxes are open until 6 p.m., but absentee ballots can be dropped off until 8 p.m. at 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., the location where the commission is tallying absentee ballot results. The site where absentee ballots are counted is known as “central count.”
Gutiérrez wasn’t sure what time the city would be done counting but said it would be after midnight.
Milwaukee’s absentee ballots are routinely reported late into the night after polls close. That’s because of the sheer number of absentee ballots cast by the city’s voters in major elections coupled with a state law prohibiting clerks from processing absentee ballots before 7 a.m. on Election Day.
The Republican-controlled state Senate last year let a bipartisan bill die that would have made it possible for clerks to start processing — and finish counting — absentee ballots earlier.
The volume of ballots in this heavily Democratic city means those votes can change the course of statewide elections when they’re added to the total.
