Wisconsin Election: Voters at polls, latest news, results: Live update

No signs of voter intimidation at several Milwaukee South Side polls

Officials at several polling places on Milwaukee’s largely Hispanic south side have not seen any instances of voter intimidation so far.

Rohan de Silva, the chief inspector at the Don & Sallie Davis Boys & Girls Club, said there have been no incidents of voter intimidation or other issues as of 10 a.m. Tuesday.

“We’ve been better prepared than ever,” he said.

Robert Levine, chief inspector at OASIS Senior Center, didn’t report any issues either. There were five election observers at the polling place around 9:30 a.m. from various groups. But no ballot challenges had been made, he said.

Leading up to the election, some advocates in the Latino community expressed concern about possible voter intimidation, following claims by presidential candidate Donald Trump and other Republicans about noncitizens voting.

There were two election observers, one Democrat and one Republican at Zablocki Library in the morning, said Linda Leaf, the chief inspector there. No ballot challenges had been made, she said.

Other than a line at 7 a.m. when polls opened, Zablocki Library has seen a steady pace of voters, Leaf said.

“It’s been going pretty well,” she said.

— Sarah Volpenhein

Despite the rainy morning, voters lined up outside the Grand Chute Town Hall in anticipation of voting

By 6:30 a.m., there was a line of around 50 people waiting outside the Grand Chute Town Hall, said election inspector Michael Taubenheim.

The morning kicked off to a busy start, but those in line didn’t have to wait long. With plenty of voting booths lined around the perimeter of the room, voters were in and out with their votes cast in less than five minutes. After an initial rush, the rest of the morning went smoothly as a steady stream of voters came into the polling location. By noon, the Town Hall had seen over 700 voters.

College student Aubrianna Workman, 23, said her voting experience this year was super easy, especially because she was already registered.

“It was a breeze, took me about a minute or two,” Workman said. Workman said she skipped class in order to vote in this year’s election.

— Jelissa Burns

At Craig Montessori in Milwaukee, daytime turnout is higher than previous elections

At Craig Montessori in Milwaukee, 370 voters had cast their ballots by 12:45 p.m. and 84 voters registered.

Rapture Robertson, the polling location’s Chief Inspector, said that turnout was significantly higher than average for the usually sleepy neighborhood polling location.

“At this time of day, it’s usually around 70 people,” she said.

Felisa Underwood and her daughter, Brandi, came to vote on Tuesday afternoon, but only one of them was able to cast a ballot.

Brandi did not know that she needed to vote in the ward she lived rather than at her mother’s polling location.

“Ain’t nobody got the time, you got work, you got kids, it’s like it was now or never,” she said.

Her mother voted for Kamala Harris because she cares most about reproductive issues, resources for families and lowering taxes. She was able to cast her ballot within five minutes of arriving.

Quita Holland, 38, was one of a dozen voters who ambled into the polling location around 12:30 on Tuesday.

She cast her ballot for Vice President Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

“I have two daughters, so women’s rights was my priority,” she said.

Across the street from the polling location, two canvassers from Power to the Polls were door-knocking homes in the neighborhood and trying to convince voters to vote on Election Day.

Courtney Williams, one of the Power to the Polls organizers, said that he had spoken to seven voters so far. Some were leaning toward supporting Harris while others were still undecided.

— Tamia Fowlkes

Voters have smooth experience at UW-Madison

Claire Swanson, 18, described her first presidential voting experience as fun. The definition of “fun” runs the gamut on a large college campus like University of Wisconsin-Madison, but she said what made it fun was being able to understand policies and vote for candidates who align with her values.

Swanson, a freshman majoring in biomedical engineering, felt well-prepared for voting this year and, if anything surprised her, it was how smooth it went.

Some of that is due to the convenience of on-campus voting print stations, organized by Shelby Fosco, co-curricular programs manager at the Morgridge Center for Public Service. Fosco has been helping students print out voter IDs and informing them of what to bring with them to vote. For first-timers like Swanson, that information proves crucial for smooth-sailing.

“Students are moving through the lines quickly. They’re coming prepared,” Fosco said. “Campus has made big efforts to communicate and get students to the right place.”

As Fosco stood at the Vote Here sign at Memorial Union, her plastic, election-themed earrings swung. She’s been wearing them for two weeks, and has various types. Today, she wore two mismatched earrings, one of a red voter box and the other with an America flag. No matter which side you catch her on, you’ll see the words VOTE.

“Anything to like feel more approachable and to have students feel comfortable to ask questions, too,” Fosco said.

Marquette students cast their votes

Music was playing from an unmanned DJ booth outside of the Wisconsin Conservatory of Lifelong Learning in Milwaukee, one of two major polling places for Marquette University students.Around noon, a long line of about 50 people, many students wearing Marquette gear, waited in the hallway to vote in the gymnasium. Lines extended into the gym.Lines have been long at the site all day, but they “come in bursts,” one election official said.“We’re kind of slammed,” another added.Chief polling captain Brenda Reed said 301 people have voted at the site as of noon. The majority had registered on-site and are students. She said many are first-time voters.As voters left the gymnasium, WCLL volunteers handed out free churros and kringle to “thank them for voting.” Students were excited to receive the treats.Lines were more modest at the other major Marquette polling place, the Alumni Memorial Union, where voters cast their ballots in a third-floor ballroom.The chief polling captain, Matt, who declined to provide his last name, said exactly 900 people had voted at the Union as of 12:45 p.m.

— Claire Reid

West Bend voters ‘happy,’ ‘relieved’

People who voted in West Bend left the polling places saying they were “happy” and “relieved” they voted. There were no lines at the City Hall, Washington County Government Center and the West Bend Community Public Library this morning.

According to City Office Clerk Office Technician Brianna Kramer, about 10,500 absentee ballots were submitted. She estimated there are over 18,000 registered voters for the City of West Bend.

At the county offices, people were in and out for an average of 21 minutes. But for this West Bend man, Daniel Agee, 53, said he likes the atmosphere and the responsibility of doing its civic duty on Election Day.

“Voting is always on Election Day for me,” Agee said. “I believe today is an important, if not the most important election.”

West Bend voter Greg Bohn, who also voted at the Washington County Government Center, echoed the importance of this election.

“We need to vote. I am getting closer to retirement. This will affect me,” Bohn said. “This election is important, and it will be what matters in four years.”

— Cathy Kozlowicz

‘We’re doing great’: 31,500 votes cast and 106,700 absentee ballots returned in Milwaukee

As of 12:06 p.m., 96 of the 180 polling locations across the City of Milwaukee have reported 31,500 votes cast, and roughly 106,700 absentee ballots returned, according to Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutiérrez.

Gutiérrez explained that the tabulators are just starting to “get into the flow,” and at the time of the press conference, she reported that they had counted over 4,000 ballots Central Count.

“We’re doing great … no concerns here,” she said, despite the slightly later start time earlier this morning.

And, Gutiérrez said it will be a late night, with an expectation of 2 a.m. or 3 a.m., but as the day progresses, a more definite time will become available.

“It’s hard to tell. We can’t read the tea leaves,” she said.

Gutiérrez said Election Day has been running smoothly; she hadn’t heard of any challenges made at Central Count or any of the polling places.

She also described long lines of voters as well as those registering to vote across Milwaukee. With “a lot of activity,” she asked voters to be patient.

Don’t share personal information on the phone, WEC chair warns

Ann Jacobs, the chair of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said on social media that WEC has gotten reports of phone calls asking for voters’ personal information, like a date of birth or driver’s license number, in order to process an absentee ballot.

Don’t give out your personal information, Jacobs said. Your clerk may call you if your absentee ballot was rejected and you need to go to your clerk’s office to fix it. The clerk would not ask for your personal information over the phone, she said.

You can track the status of your absentee ballot, including whether your completed absentee ballot was received, at myvote.wi.gov.

— Hope Karnopp

In Neenah, voter turnout peaked in the rush hour and went ‘smoothly’

Richard Mangan, 79, of Neenah, said he’s happy about his voting experience, which only took him a couple of minutes for voter registration, contrary to his expectation of a longer wait.

Mangan and his wife voted for the first time voting at Peace Lutheran Church, a polling place in Neenah.

The couple moved from Whitefish Bay to Neenah last year.

“We’re happy that it went so smoothly,” he added.

Katie Ramaeker, the chief inspector, said there has been a steady flow of voters since the rush hour this morning. About 600 voters cast their ballots as of 12:30 p.m., according to Ramaeker.

However, there were a long line waiting before the polling place opened at 7 a.m.

“It’s certainly our peak time so far today, ” she said. “We had a full line to the door.”

— Zhen Wang

A young Milwaukee student votes Harris, despite family concerns

Lauren Foust, 20, said she voted for Harris at the Maryland Avenue Montessori School in Milwaukee around noon. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student said she voted for Democrats due to her support of reproductive rights and after conversations with her roommates.

She said being a student on campus helped her feel more informed about down-ballot races.

Foust said she comes from a conservative family and that gave her some internal pause, but it didn’t sway her vote ultimately.

“It was pretty clear to me,” she said.

Over 3,000 people have voted in person in Green Bay on Election Day so far

A rainy start to Election Day in Green Bay didn’t slow down voters deciding several important races. As of Tuesday, there were 51,692 registered voters, with 21,127 absentee applications and 20,154 returned.

Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys said in a 10:30 a.m. press conference at Central Count that not every poll center had reported the number of voters, but so far 3,200 people have voted in person. Also, only 234 votes have been counted.

“Please be aware that it’s 10:30 (a.m.), please be aware that we have to open the ballots and process them before we put them in the machine,” Jeffreys said.

She said there were a couple of issues — a voter who received a test ballot and a machine that wasn’t working properly at Ward 41.

“We are investigating how a test ballot got to the polls,” she said. “We sent the technician to the poll and the problem was resolved.”

She said before Election Day, five machines were fixed and three are rented in case a replacement is needed.

Jeffreys reminded voters who are returning absentee ballots to City Hall that Jefferson Street is closed mid-block south from Walnut Street.

“The dropbox is closed,” she also told voters, reminding them that the polls close at 8 p.m. and that they need to arrive before then to vote.

— Tim Langton

Memorial Union at UW-Madison slower than 2020

Election Day in 2020 had Izzie Behl, one of the chief inspections officers at the UW-Madison, running ragged. She busied herself sanitizing screens and pens, enforcing social distancing and helping to process large bundles of absentee ballots. Tuesday, Behl had some November jitters, but, by comparison, it’s been surprisingly smooth.

When Memorial Union opened its doors to voters at 7 a.m., Behl and her team registered 52 new voters in the first hour, adding to the 1,100 registered voters at this campus polling location. It’s a marked shift from previous election years, where typically she’s seen one to four voters do same-day registration.

Behl expects that about half of all people voting will register Tuesday.

The first hour also had the biggest rush, Behl said. By 10 a.m., 136 people voted, including same-day registration voters. The morning was also spent processing about 60 absentee ballots.

Behl said there tend to be lulls throughout the day. Students mill in and out between classes. The biggest rush, she said, will likely occur around 4:30 p.m.

DJs at the polls hope to encourage voting

Outside of the Maryland Avenue Montessori School on Milwaukee’s East Side, Lindsay Jones, 44, set up a DJ table to play music at about noon.

A former election official, Jones said he was passionate about encouraging the community to vote. Jones intended to play “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift for his first song.

He was encouraged by his wife, Elle Bonze Jones, who works at Milwaukee Area Technical College, to do the DJ program this year.

“We can’t tell people who to vote for, but we want them to vote,” Jones said.

Jones planned to head to another poll to play music at 3 p.m. and had a waterproof, ready-to-go cover for his tech in case rain returned to Milwaukee.

Young poll worker in Wauwatosa can’t vote yet, but her dad just cast his first ballot Liliana Medina, a 16-year-old student at Wauwatosa East, was serving as a poll worker on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Tosa.

Liliana Medina, a 16-year-old student at Wauwatosa East, was manning the door and directing voters as a poll worker Tuesday at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church across the street from her high school. It’s her second election serving in the capacity after helping in April.

“My friend was in a law and society class and there was some kind of flier for student poll workers,” she said. “She sent me the link and said I should sign up, so I did.”

Though Medina can’t cast her own ballot, she was able to witness a family milestone just days earlier when her father, a native of Mexico, became an official U.S. citizen.

“I went with him to his naturalization and then, a few hours later, we went to one of the early absentee voting locations and he voted for the first time.”

The Wauwatosa school district didn’t hold classes on Election Day.

Up the road at Wauwatosa City Hall, Crystal Nelson was one of the first voters through.

“I was nervous,” she said of the voting process. “I read the whole page like I was in school, put my glasses on, ‘Oh my God, oh my God.’”

Nelson said she voted for Harris.

“I really do think she’s for everybody,” she said. “It’s not trying to separate us anymore, even though we know that’s out there. She’s still trying to bring some of us who’s got the sense together. That kind of touched my heart.”

Erin Oberg was the first voter in her ward, arriving at 5:45 a.m.

“I want to be that person to see my ballot get scanned,” she said. “I get the green light, and I get the sticker. I want to make sure my vote counts.”

Oberg said she voted for Harris on account of women’s rights.

“I just don’t think Trump has the morals for a presidential candidate,” she said. “I think we need to go in the right direction, and that would be Kamala Harris.”

Chris Wisniewski, who voted at St. Matthew’s, pulled in at 6:45 a.m. and made it through in 45 minutes. He also voted for Harris.

“I just feel she’s better for the people and better for the every-day Americans, just for regular people. I think there’s more at stake this time around.”

Jamie Turnbull also said she was voting for Harris, citing issues related to women’s rights. She arrived right at 7 a.m. and was out in less than 45 minutes.

“I would say the last election felt a little more stressful on the day of,” she said, referring to 2020.

— JR Radcliffe

Almost 400 people vote at Maryland Avenue Montessori

Claire Moore, chief of the polling place at the Maryland Avenue Montessori School on Milwaukee’s East Side, said the polling place was busy to start the day. She said they’re sharing the polling site with another poll, which is closed due to construction.

Moore said 399 people had voted around 11:30, with a handful of others in line to vote.

First-time voters cast ballots at UW-Milwaukee

UW-Milwaukee students, many voting for the first time, stopped by the Lubar Entrepreneurship Center on Kenwood Boulevard to cast their ballots.

The polling place had no lines at 10:15 a.m., and co-chief polling captain Sam Leichtling said there had not yet been “excessive lines” despite a “steady pace” of voters throughout the morning. Still, a tent was set up outside the door to protect voters from rain in the forecast should lines get long.

As of 10:20 a.m., Leichtling said about 250 people had voted and around 100 had registered on-site. Throughout the mid-morning, many students asked election officials how and if they could register.

Two wards report to the Lubar Center polling place, one representing UWM dorms and the other a mix of students and community members, Leichtling said. He said there have been no problems at the site, and voters are excited. Four election observers from “a variety of organizations” have signed in at the site as of mid-morning, he added.

Evan Devine, a sophomore and first-time voter, said he was glad he voted and is excited to do so again.

“I have a girlfriend, and that’s important to me,” he said. “She deserves her rights.”

Freshmen roommates Ceadaoin Snell and Anastasia Sutterfield were also voting for the first time. Both students said they voted for Harris. Sutterfield, who uses they/them pronouns, said they were encouraged to vote because they didn’t want Trump to be president.

The roommates said they’d be looking forward to their first time voting for a while. “We had this on the books,” said Sutterfield, who added they’ve been accompanying their mom to the polls for many years.

— Claire Reid

Avoid getting rain drops on ballots, Dane County clerk says

If it’s raining or drizzling while you’re standing in line at the polls, try to dry off a little bit before handling a ballot, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell advised voters on social media.

“Make sure your ballot does not get any drops of water on it. Voting machines work best on dry ballots,” he said. “Avoid dripping on your ballot!”

The latest forecast from the National Weather Service shows lines of showers and storms moving through Wisconsin this afternoon and ending around 6 p.m. in the eastern part of the state. Polls are open until 8 p.m. in Wisconsin.

— Hope Karnopp

Brookfield voters in key Waukesha County head to the polls

Combined, the Town and City of Brookfield cast 55% of its votes for Trump over Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Located in Waukesha County, it’s on the map of key tipping points to watch in this election.

“I think Brookfield is a wonderful place, I don’t think there’s any contention,” said voter Jenny Meza, who cast her ballot for Trump at Brookfield Central High School on Tuesday. “We’re a neighborly community. We see signs for both candidates but, rest assured, if there was a fire at the neighbor’s house and a different political sign in the yard, the residents of Brookfield would still help every single person.

“I don’t think there’s any division in Brookfield, or at least I haven’t experienced that. I think by trying to advertise that there could be division is division in and of itself. I think Brookfield’s a wonderful community.”

Meza, who’s expecting her third child in January, said she enjoys the atmosphere of the polling place.

“I love paper ballots and I like to be able to have the control of actually placing it in the machine and knowing my vote is counting.”

Kate Dwyer brought her sleeping 8-week old daughter, Adeline, to the polling place at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. Dwyer said the biggest issue that concerned her in this election was border control.

“I have a couple of brothers that live in Denver, Colorado, and they’re talking all the time about how bad it is there with the amount of crime that’s gone up,” she said. “And just for (Adeline’s) safety, to be honest with you. That’s really all it came down to. I need her to be safe, and the border has not been taken care of the past four years, and that scares me.”

For Ted and Pat, both in their early 70s and residents of Brookfield since 1980, a vote for Trump came down to the candidate they felt was more competent to handle the job.

“His opponent just hasn’t demonstrated any competence whatsoever in her entire career,” Ted said.

There’s also a sense of relief that the election season is nearly over. Pat said she wasn’t sure she’d be watching the election coverage late into the night.

“We’ve seen so much,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t know if we want to see anymore.”

“I really wish the government would set aside x number of dollars for each candidate,” Ted said of campaign spending. “Nobody’s allowed to spend any more (than that). Take your best shot with equal time.”

Catherine Rose, a 15-year resident of Brookfield, cast her vote for Democrats.

“The Republican Party has become very divisive and angry,” she said. “I know Democrats can be that way too, but when Kamala was here and Trump was here, their messages were so different, and I don’t like the division. I generally vote Libertarian, but I just do not want to see the division we have for another four years.”

Charles Zhang, 60, and his son, Andrew, 25, came to the polls at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, and it was Andrew’s first time voting, drawn in by the presidential race.

“I feel like too much (one side) attacks the other side without a conversation on real issues, how to grow and move forward,” said Charles, who didn’t want to reveal for whom he voted.

Inside the Arts Center, things were relatively quiet and smooth by 8 a.m. after a surge of 150 voters at 7 a.m. Poll chief Tom Jansen said he usually oversees four staffers counting absentee voters, but this time the count is up to eight, with 62% of registered voters in Brookfield already casting their ballot before Tuesday.

“We keep experienced people with new people,” he said. “Today is my first day having a lot more new people, so I make sure they’re with an experienced person. At the beginning of the day, we make sure to say, ‘Any questions, just ask.’ There are no bad questions. Most people really enjoy doing this. It’s a civic service.”

— JR Radcliffe

At Ninety Fifth Street School, turnout and same-day registration numbers are high

By 11 a.m. Tuesday, over 400 voters had cast their ballots at Ninety Fifth Street School in Milwaukee.

Poll workers registered more than 86 voters, which Chief Election Inspector Joe Hasler said was a fairly high number compared to recent local and midterm elections.

David Fell, 70, said that the lines moved quickly and he made it in and out of the polling location with ease Tuesday. Though he didn’t share who he voted for, Fell said, he wants to see the country get back on track.

“Wild spending has to stop,” he said.

Jakira Lucas, 21, said she voted for Harris.

“I feel like she is really gonna stand on business and do what she said she’s gonna do,” Lucas said.

She said, after months of hearing both candidates share their platforms, she did not feel like Trump would care for all people or adequately serve her community.

“I feel like he got his picks on who he cares about and who he is gonna try to do something for. That’s not somebody I want in office.”

Adrienne Jones, 52, shared similar sentiments, stating that she felt Harris would deliver on women’s rights and equality issues.

— Tamia Fowlkes

Voters learning to get along on differences

Sarah Johnson voted this morning at the Humane Society of Wisconsin polling site on West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee.

Johnson said she voted for Trump out of concern for the economy and the southern border.

“I think there should be immigrants here but not an open border,” she said.

Johnson said she’s been interested in politics since she was a child and thinks that people need to learn to put aside their differences some and get along better. “I think there are a lot of things we can agree on,” she said.

“We need to humanize each other more,” she said, and not assume someone’s a bad person because of their politics.

Becher Terrace Apartments remained quiet most of the morning

Becher Terrace Apartments on 1800 W. Becher St. in Milwaukee was quiet most of the morning, with the longest lines at the first hour the poll were open.

Miguel Angel Rodriguez, 82, said he was voting for Harris.

“Voting is a sacred act for me,” he said. “I served this country for 13 years and I think any Puerto Rican-American needs a candidate that is not only going elevate the economy but a strong president that can stand up to the enemies we have,” he said in Spanish.

Rodriguez said it was important for him to vote because he believes communities should have a voice.

Rodriguez served in the Army from 1967 to 1970.

“I love this country and I was willing to give my life for it,” he said.

Stephanie Manuel, 22, was proud to hold up her “I voted” sticker.

“I’m a daughter of immigrants and I believe that I should be able to vote for them, to be a voice for them, she said. “It’s very important for my future and for their future.”

Manuel’s family emigrated from Mexico 24 years ago. Tuesday was her second time voting in a presidential election.

The most important issues for her are women’s rights and immigration.

“Since (my family) can’t vote, I think through me I am able to vote for them and I am able to be their voice, especially for this election,” she said.

— Jessica Rodriguez

Voters in Appleton are reminded to do a fit check before heading to the polls

When Jessica Robbins got dressed this morning, she didn’t think she would be asked to conceal her shirt at the polls.

In the spirit of Election Day, the 41-year-old Appleton woman donned a black shirt that read “I like my presidents like I like my guns, 40 & 45” with an image of the 40th U.S. president, Ronald Reagan, and the 45th U.S. president, Trump. She paired it with a cardigan and jeans.

As Robbins stood in line to vote at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Stephen Wuerger, election chief for District 10, asked her to conceal her shirt, citing Wisconsin statute. State law considers wearing partisan clothing as electioneering, or activity intended to influence voting during an election. Electioneering is prohibited at the polls. Those who violate the law can be turned away from voting and may also face penalties.

Robbins said she wasn’t aware of this law, but after some quick research learned Wisconsin is one of nearly two dozen states with such rules. She said this surprised her, as she had worn such clothing to vote before, but was never asked about it. Her clothing choice was not about swaying other people’s vote, she said, but merely expressing herself on the historic day.

Robbins isn’t the only voter who has been caught off-guard by this law; Wuerger said many people don’t realize they’re technically electioneering or forget to take off their button, hat or change their clothes before heading to the polls.

“Nine times out of 10, people are willing to cover up, or take their hat off, without any pushback,” Wuerger said.

Robbins fastened the bottom button of her cardigan and proceeded to vote without incident. She said she would understand if someone were to complain about her shirt, stating many are on “high alert” this election.

But her cooperation doesn’t mean she agrees with the rules.

“I don’t care what party you’re affiliated with, you should have the right to express yourself,” Robbins said.

Robbins said, in keeping with her shirt, that she voted Republican. She didn’t always vote red, though.

“As I got more well-rounded as an adult, in my standards and values, I realized that Democrats didn’t always align,” she said.

— Madison Lammert

Greenfield polling sites sees strong early turnout

Greenfield poll workers reported a strong morning turnout, and voters said things were running smoothly.

One polling site, Adoration Lutheran Church. had a couple people waiting before voting started at 7 a.m., said chief inspector Bonnie Konop.

Meanwhile, the early morning rush from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. at the Greendale Community Center was stronger than previous elections, said chief inspector Devan Gracyalny.

At both sites, as well at Greendale Public Library, voters said their waits in line were relatively brief.

Joan Szyba, a Trump voter, said her main issues are the economy and border security.

“He’s the best leader,” Szyba said. “He’s not afraid of anything.

Harris voter Amber Jackson said “basic rights” was her main issue.

“Not only am I a woman of color, I’m also a member of the LGBTQ community,” Jackson said. “The last time we had a certain someone as president, that didn’t go too well.”

— Tom Daykin

Two-thirds of Mequon voters turned in absentee where voting is ‘going smoothly’

Mequon’s city hall and library voting centers were quiet Tuesday morning as voters trickled in on Election Day, where about two-thirds of registered voters had already turned in absentee ballots.

The city of Mequon had just over 12,000 ballots turned in as of Tuesday morning, out of just under 19,000 registered voters.

The city had just 313 unreturned absentee ballots as of Tuesday morning, according to the city clerk’s office.

Martin said that the number of absentee ballots was the unusual factor, though it was comparable to the amount of absentee ballots used in 2020.

“We had a steady line for the first half hour, but people really waited only 10 or 15 minutes,” Martin said. “Since then it’s just been a steady stream. It’s been going smoothly.”

As of 9:30 a.m., about 200 people had voted in person.

Cindy Bacskai headed to Mequon City Hall with her husband and son Tuesday morning to vote. On their way out, the three snapped a picture to commemorate her son’s first time voting.

“We were talking on the way over here how consequential the election is for his first election,” Bacskai said.

She said that it was “shocking” that Trump was again on the ballot, and that reproductive rights and gun violence were top issues for her.

“I’m for Kamala because I think she’s highly qualified and cares for people. She understands what the issues are,” Bacskai said.

— Jordyn Noennig

Many new voters on the west side of Milwaukee

By around 10 a.m., more people had voted at the Wisconsin Humane Society polling site on West Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee than would have voted in an entire day in some previous elections, said polling site Chief Alli Williams.

“We’ve had a lot of new registrants,” she said.

There were four election observers at the site and the voting had gone smoothly, according to Williams.

After delay at Milwaukee Central Count, Wolfe says clerks have to work within parameters of the law

After a 45-minute delay to begin counting absentee ballots at Milwaukee’s central count location, Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe noted clerks “have to work within the parameters of our law.”

“It certainly seems like, if we did have laws that were a little bit different, that allowed pre-processing like the majority of other states, that potentially we could have unofficial results earlier in the evening,” Wolfe said.

Under current law, clerks can’t begin to process absentee ballots until 7 a.m. on Election Day. A bipartisan bill to allow processing to begin one day earlier failed in the Republican-controlled state Senate.

Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Paulina Gutiérrez previously said she expects a late night, with absentee results likely coming in after midnight.

— Hope Karnopp

Poll chaplains in Kenosha and Racine say the morning has been ‘easy breezy’

There has been a “steady stream” of people casting votes at the Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, according to Rev. Thomas Poole, senior pastor at Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church in Racine.

Rev. Thomas Poole is the social action director for the Wisconsin churches in the Milwaukee district of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a poll chaplain through Faiths United to Save Democracy, a non-partisan organization aimed at increasing voter turnout.

He estimated that roughly 100 people have cast their vote this morning.

At Festival Park Hall in Racine, the morning has been “easy breezy,” said Rev. R.J. Poole, executive pastor at Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church in Racine.

When Rev. R.J. Poole first arrived at the voting site, there was a line of roughly 50 people ready to vote and it’s been steady since then.

So far, she said the energy has been positive and a number of people have told her they are first-time voters.

“It’s really, really good to see that people are coming out to vote,” she said.

— Caitlin Looby

In Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, new registrations receive cheers

Married couple Mary Newby and Liam Santini, both 30, said they were pleased with the “great” voting experience in Gordon Park in Milwaukee. Newby said people who registered to vote received cheers.

“I feel good about making our voices heard,” Newby said.

The two voted Democratic and said they felt confident in Baldwin’s chances to prevail over Hovde, whom Santini said was a clear outsider.

Both said they were more nervous about the presidential outcome, but hoped Harris would win.

“We’re ready to see the chapter of Trump come to a close,” Newby said.

Hundreds of election workers and observers at Milwaukee Central Count

Roughly 100 election observers have signed in to be present at Central Count on Tuesday morning, according to a Milwaukee Election Commission spokesperson. Observers with both the GOP and Democratic Party are listed, along with many Independents.

The spokesperson also reported that there are a little over 200 election workers registered to work today.

Earlier in the morning, Milwaukee Election Commission Deputy Director Bonnie Chang shared there was a printing error with the inspector statement issued and has asked the incorrect date to be crossed out and replaced with Nov. 5.

Riverwest mother says supporting Israel is her top issue

Marnie Atias, 45, voted with her two kids Talia and Moshe in tow on Tuesday Gordon Park in Milwaukee.

She said Israel was her No. 1 issue, both supporting the country and its people locally and in the country. Atias declined to share who she was voting for, saying it was choosing between “the lesser of two evils.”

Atias’s children and their future were top of mind as well when she voted, she said.

“I feel like both candidates were not right for the job,” she said.

Women’s rights on the ballot this election

Stephanie Tesch, 33, who voted on Milwaukee’s west side Tuesday morning, said women’s rights are the most important issue for her this presidential election, so she voted for Harris.

She said she’s disturbed by how Trump and his party have been working to move the country backward on this issue.

“It’s just the audacity for them to have our rights back on the ballot,” Tesch said.

John, 41, who didn’t want to provide his last name because of his job, also made it clear who he voted for on the west side.

“Anybody but Trump,” he said.

John said he took the day off work because he thought there would be long lines, but he was in and out of his polling place at the Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School-Lower Campus in about five minutes.

Adain M., 29, said this was his first time voting and the process was fast and smooth. He said the poll workers were very helpful and organized.

Cal Stanke, chief inspector judge at one polling site on Milwaukee’s west side, said he has more than two dozen poll workers at the site that includes two wards.

Several sites also had various election observers from various organizations.

Most sites on the west side had more workers and observers than voters at any given time, poll workers said.

— Frank Vaisvilas

Trinity Methodist Church in Madison promises sweet treats after voting

When voters enter Trinity Methodist Church on Madison’s west side to cast their vote, they’ll be welcomed by a smorgasbord of homemade baked goods.

“Go vote and then get your little treat,” the Trinity Methodist Church members say by way of greeting.

Most of the baked goods come from members of Trinity Methodist Church, said Steven Bloyd, a church member. Each presidential election year, chocolate chip cookies, orange poppyseed muffins and bags of caramel corn accompany the civic duty to vote.

They typically raise $100 on Election Day, proceeds of which support upcoming local programs and the National United Methodist General Conference.

“It’s decent, but our major fundraiser is football parking,” Bloyd said, chuckling. “We’re a half-mile from the stadium and we figure they’re probably going to park here anyway.”

Menasha Senior Center offers Spanish-speaking service to Latino voters

At 9:51 am, voters are waiting inside the Menasha Senior Center.

“We’ve had the shortest line in the area,” said Jonathon McKenzie, a poll worker at the Menasha Center.

Inside a packed space, two lines of voters are waiting patiently for their spot to vote.

Gary Crevier, a poll worker and a retired social worker, gears himself up for any Latino voters to show up and serve the needs of the increased Latino population in Menasha.

As a Spanish speaker, Grevier said he has helped with translation for one Latino voter, and when he finishes his shift at 2 p.m.

— Zhen Wang

Quick voting at Milwaukee Riverwest’s Gordon Park

In Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, long lines initially marked the start of voting at the Gordon Park polling place.

Poll chief Noël Ash said she had never seen something like it before at a poll.

“It was really crazy,” Ash said.

By 9:30 a.m., that line was gone and voters moved freely in and out.

Among those was Sara Sowell and Bennett Westling, both 32, who voted for Harris, despite some reservations toward her political stances.

Sowell and Westling both cited dissatisfaction with the Democrat’s stance on the war in Gaza, immigration and attitude towards progressive platforms.

Westling said he didn’t like the way Harris handled the uninstructed movement, a political campaign of voters displeased with the Israel-Hamas War and its impact on Palestinians. In Wisconsin’s presidential primaries, the campaign received 8.3% of votes

However, the two voters reasoned it was easier to work with Harris on these issues than Trump.

“We live in a swing state, so it’s very important,” Sowell said.

Climate change top of mind for UW-Madison grad student

Cameron Jones, 22, waited outside Trinity United Methodist Church on Madison’s west side as his boyfriend finished voting. He felt very good about casting a vote for Harris-Walz, although he’s cautious.

This is Jones’ second time voting in a presidential election and his priorities have remained the same: Climate change is top of mind for Jones, a graduate student working toward his Ph.D. in statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also has a vested interest in education, as he hopes to pursue a career in teaching.

“There was a referendum in there about increasing funding for STEM classrooms and facilities and such, so I was happy to vote yes for that,” Jones said.

Although Jones feels cautious optimism, he also knows he lives in a “homogenous blue zone.” But growing up in Waukesha, which has historically voted Republican, optimism tends to be informed by those homogenous areas.

“Where my parents are from, back in Waukesha, that’s a very red area,” Jones said. “I feel like both groups are feeling confident because of where they are. And of course, one of us is going to be wrong.”

Big turnout at west Green Bay polling place

I was voter 163 at my polling place in west Green Bay. The poll worker said that for 10 a.m., that is a huge turnout.

Gloomy weather doesn’t seem to have an effect at any of the five polling places I’ve visited.

— Richard Ryman

‘Very quiet. Nothing exciting’: WEC Chairwoman Ann Jacobs at Milwaukee Central Count

Among election observers at Central Count was Wisconsin Elections Commission Chairwoman Ann Jacobs, who’s one of the Democratic members of the bipartisan panel and served at the helm during the contested 2020 presidential election.

When asked how Election Day has been going so far, Jacobs said: “It’s as boring as ever. I love to see it. Very quiet. Nothing exciting.”

Jacobs said that unless something “very unusual” happens she plans to stay at Central Count until mid to late afternoon.

WEC says voting is running smoothly, no threats reported at polling places

In the first of three calls with reporters today at 9:30 a.m., Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe said “everything is going well” and all polling places opened at 7 a.m. as expected.

So far, no issues have been reported at any of Wisconsin’s approximately 3,700 polling places, Wolfe said.

“We’re not hearing any sort of credible threats toward any Wisconsin polling places at this time,” Wolfe said.

Wolfe said she feels confident that local election officials and law enforcement have prepared and practiced contingency plans over the last four years.

She noted about 3.3 million people voted in 2020, compared to about 1.6 million Wisconsinites who have already voted early or absentee by mail for Nov. 5.

“That means that more than half of the voters may be voting at the polls today, so it will be a busy day at the polls,” Wolfe said.

— Hope Karnopp

At Milwaukee School of Languages, nearly 300 voters cast their ballot

Around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, voters steadily flowed into the Milwaukee School of Languages to cast their ballots.

The school is closed for Election Day, and the voting lines and booths have consistently served eight to 10 voters.

“About 280 people have voted so far,” Chief Elections Inspector Stanley Knox said.

Shari Briggs, 39, entered the polling location Tuesday sporting a striped pink and green blouse. She belongs to the same sorority as Harris, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, and said that she was casting her ballot for “human decency.”

“My No. 1 priority is my rights and moving this country forward. A country that will be good for all of its citizens, not just a select few,” she said.

— Tamia Fowlkes

Madison’s west side sees big morning turnout

Before she even got to the Trinity Methodist Church on Madison’s west side at 7 a.m., Jacqueline Houtman, the polling location’s chief election inspector, saw the line. About 40 people stood outside the church eager to cast their vote.

So far, turnout has been bigger than Houtman’s ever seen, and she’s been volunteering on and off since the Bush-Gore presidential election of 2000. Of the 1,200 voters registered to vote at Trinity Methodist Church, Houtman and her volunteers also have 500 absentee ballots from both early voting and mail-in to process before the end of the day.

By Houtman’s estimation, by 9 a.m., an hour since opening, they already had around 100 people vote. The line’s moving pretty quickly, she said.

Her biggest qualm so far, beyond one small hiccup with a machine jamming, is the humidity.

“It’s not even 9 a.m. and I’m already on my second shirt,” Houtman said, before racing away to help register a new voter.

Voting ‘smooth and fast’ Tuesday morning on Milwaukee’s west side

Stephanie Tesch, 33, who’s voted in several elections, said Tuesday morning this was probably the fastest process she’s experienced for a presidential election.

Other voters and the poll worker confirmed that the voting process has been relatively fast and smooth at several polling sites on the west side of Milwaukee.

Cal Stanke, chief inspector judge at the polling site at the Milwaukee Spanish Immersion School-Upper Campus, said there was a line of about 50 people waiting before the polls opened there, which includes Wards 253 and 254.

After the line was cleared in less than 30 minutes, there have been no long lines here or at several other polling sites on the west side throughout the morning.

— Frank Vaisvilas

Bellevue voters were lined up at 6 a.m. at village hall

Chief inspector Ann Jarzen said voters were lined up at 6 a.m. at Bellevue Village Hall. She said they had a rush for the first hour. By 9:30 a.m., there was no line, but voters were arriving steadily. About 75% of Bellevue’s registered voters voted early, but Jarzen said they were getting a fair number of same-day registrations.

Bellevue Community Center was busy, with a long line even at 9 a.m. The community center had two ballots because the Green Bay and De Pere school districts both overlap the village boundary, but that didn’t seem to slow them down.

— Richard Ryman

Milwaukee Central Count off to a slow start

Just before 9 a.m., Milwaukee Election Commission Deputy Director Bonnie Chang announced that election workers may begin, to follow a slight delay in operations.

Dozens of election observers filed into the main conference room at the Baird Center, where they began walking and gathering around each of the 13 tabulation areas.

Military issues important to Milwaukee voter

Ashley McGrury cast her ballot this morning at the Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church polling site, in Milwaukee’s District 10.

Her husband is in the U.S. Air Force and she’s concerned about border security and international conflicts.

Voters showed excitement at Menasha Senior Center

Despite the rain, voters are excited about casting their votes on Election Day. At the Menasha Senior Center, James Uhoraho, 32, cast his ballot for the first time since he naturalized as a United States citizen.

Originally from the Republic of Congo, Uhoraho, a packaging technician at Arla Foods, said he was initially nervous about the election procedures, but the poll workers at the center helped him with everything he needed to know. His nervousness eased after casting his vote for Trump.

“It’s the Lord to vote,” he said. “I’m excited.”

— Zhen Wang

Election Day kicks off downtown at MSOE

The polls opened at Milwaukee School of Engineering’s Diercks Hall at 7 a.m., and students and community members filed inside amid the light, early morning rain.

At least 40 people were lined up inside around 7:45 a.m., though co-chief polling captain Jessica Haskell said lines had yet to be out the door. Haskell said the polling place has two poll observers and things have been “smooth” at the site.

Early morning voters at the site represented a mix of students, MSOE employees and community members. Many were hurrying to work or class after voting.

Atlas Hennegan, 24, of Milwaukee, said it was important to them to vote for their rights as a non-binary person with feminine anatomy.

“I think that it’s really important that I continue to be able to have a choice, if I get pregnant, whether or not I give birth, and I also deserve medical rights as a non-binary person if I decide to transition,” Hennegan said.

Hennegan voted for Harris and said they agree with “most of what she stands for” but added, “I do believe in a free Palestine, and she does not.”

Elizabeth Hardner, a 24-year-old anthropology graduate student at the UW-Milwaukee, said she decided to vote third party due to Harris’ and Trump’s stances on Palestine. Hardner, who came to the polls in a Palestinian keffiyeh, said she voted for Claudia De la Cruz of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

“I don’t feel that Trump or Kamala have the morals and ethics that I share,” she said.

Hardner said, while she recognizes a third-party candidate almost certainly won’t win, she believes there will be a historic number of third-party voters in this election.

Multiple MSOE students said it was their first time voting and that they had a positive experience. Catherine Janeteas, a sophomore from Chicago, said her parents encouraged her to vote and her first time voting was easier than she expected.

Nick Seidler, 56, of Wauwatosa, MSOE coordinator of special events, was walking to work outside the polling place and said he was encouraged to see so many students voting. Seidler said he voted early and has never missed voting in an election in his life.

He said his parents were born in Nazi Germany and lived under both Adolf Hitler and Soviet communism.

“So, the extreme left and the extreme right both … literally tried to kill my family,” he said. So, since then, … it’s become very important for me to vote.”

Seidler said he noticed people felt unenthusiastic about voting for “boomers,” and the addition of Harris “reinvigorated the election a little bit.”

— Claire Reid

Shorewood polling site sees dozens in line, even though 60% of registered voters have already voted

Dozens of people were in line at the Shorewood Village Center as the polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday.

Janet Kreilein, the chief inspector at the location, said there had been a “robust” turnout for early in-person and mail-in voting in Shorewood, with a total of about 6,700 village residents having voted early. That represents about 62% of the village’s registered voters, she said.

“This morning, we’re seeing a lot of in-person registrations,” Kreilein added.

Shorewood, a village just north of Milwaukee, is considered an overwhelmingly Democratic area known for its high voter turnout. President Joe Biden won more than 80% of the vote in Shorewood in 2020.

Shorewood resident Paula Eichenbaum, 62, and her daughter Maya, 25, voted together not long after the polls opened Tuesday. Asked about the issues that brought her out to vote, Eichenbaum said she’s “pro-choice.”

“And voting for a presidential candidate that’s not a felon,” Eichenbaum added.

Eichenbaum said she was shocked when Trump won in 2016, and added that she’s “very nervous.” She plans to stay up to watch the election results.

“I won’t go to bed,” Eichenbaum said. “I have tomorrow off because I knew I would stay up.”

Eichenbaum said she’s eager to see how different groups, such as young people, older people and women, voted.

Her daughter, Maya, said “freedom of choice” is also one of the issues that brought her to the polls.

“And it’s cool to vote for a woman this time,” Maya added.

Maya, who’s turning 26 on Thursday, said she’s also nervous.

“I hope my birthday is not like, sad, because of the election,” she said.

— Mary Spicuzza

Voting goes smoothly at the Town of Scott in east Green Bay

The Town of Scott received over 1,600 absentee ballots before the polls opened at 7 a.m. today.

John Roth, clerk and treasurer said the town has about 2,700 registered voters and expects about 1,100 people to vote in person.

“We usually have about 100-150 new registrations for presidential,” Roth said.

He said there are six computers stationed to help scan voter IDs and make the process even faster.

“We can only check six people at a time, but now we don’t have to go through hundreds of pages,” he said.

Roth said he has a great deputy and very experienced poll workers.

— Ariel Perez

On Milwaukee’s West Side, an RFK Jr. supporter votes for Trump

At the Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church polling site, in Milwaukee’s District 10, Gethsemane Vera said she supported former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on health care issues and voted for Trump because that’s what Kennedy would have wanted.

Vera said she’s in favor of a health care system that’s not so reliant on prescription drugs as the solution for most illnesses. Her grandmother has dementia and has to take 13 medications.

Vera doesn’t much care for politics.

“It’s kind of sad, really,” she said about the divided nature of our nation.

There was a line outside the building when the polling station opened, but less than an hour later, it was down to a handful of voters coming in at a time.

“It’s pretty normal for when they throw everything at you at 6 a.m. and expect you to be ready at 7,” said polling site chief Pat Love.

Voting in full swing on election morning in Appleton

Appleton voters braved the rain early Tuesday morning to cast their ballots.

Some eager District 9 voters arrived at St. Bernard Catholic Church before the polls opened at 7 a.m., volunteer greeter Bob Klein of Appleton said.

They were able to shelter from the rain inside, but couldn’t enter the polling area.

Within the first hour of voting, several voters reported wait times between 30 to 45 minutes. The parking lot was full, and so were the side streets.

At 8 a.m., Klein cautioned voters the waits could take 40 minutes.

— Madison Lammert

Election Day starts at UW-Green Bay with polls open

Voting is underway at UW-Green Bay under rain that turned a drizzle after the polls opened at 7 a.m. on the dot.

Pam Vanderbloemen, chief officer at UWGB, said preparations to open the polls went well, and voting started without inconvenience.

“We are moving along very well,” Vanderbloemen said. “We have a steady stream of voters coming.”

Dave Bieda, 51, voted at UWGB early this morning and said this poll location was “busier than normal.”

“This is not a high-density population area,” he said. “It’s usually very smooth.”

However, he said it was still a quick process, and even if the number of people voting quadrupled, there wouldn’t be any problems.

“Now I go to work, absolutely,” Bieda said.

— Ariel Perez

Rain doesn’t discourage voters in Allouez

Heavy rain didn’t keep voters from turning out when polls opened at 7 a.m. The line stretched around three sides of the pavilion in Green Isle Park.

“I didn’t care if I got wet,” said Sandy MacDonald, 41, of Allouez.

Amanda Yocius, 39, saw the long line when she arrived at 7:05. “I was like all right!”

Multiple voters said the process went smoothly, “except for the rain.”

— Richard Ryman

Milwaukee Central Count bustles with dozens of election observers

Ahead of doors opening, dozens of election observers filed in line to sign in at Central Count at downtown Milwaukee’s Baird Center.

Election workers milled inside the conference room — home to 13 tabulators set to count ballots. Outside the main doors, one large group of election observers congregated as Jefferson Davis lead them in a prayer.

Davis, is a former Menomonee Falls village president who promoted false claims about the 2020 election and tried to overturn the results.