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Elections

Frequently Asked Questions

This Frequently Asked Questions is being added to all the time. Please check back again for new entries.

Questions Answers
Top 12 FAQs for November 6 General Election

G.A.B. Director and General Counsel Kevin J. Kennedy appeared October 16 on Wisconsin Eye's Newsmakers program to discuss the most frequently asked questions about the November 6, 2012 General Election.

Click here to watch at WisconsinEye.org.

Election Day Updates

Check here on Election Day for updates on voting in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin does not have an Election Night reporting system for unofficial returns. Please visit a news media website where Associated Press results are reported. 

Voting off to good start in Wisconsin

Voting got off to a good start in Wisconsin as polling places opened around the state at 7 a.m.

As of 9:45 a.m., the Government Accountability Board has not received reports of any major problems that would significantly impact voting. Phones are busy here at the G.A.B. with staff assisting voters on a variety of individual issues.

Check back for additional updates.

Voting continues to be strong

At 12:30 p.m. -- Voter turnout in Wisconsin continues to be strong today, despite the precipitation in some parts of the state. The G.A.B. is predicting an overall turnout of 70 percent of eligible voters (approximately 3 million votes).

Generally, voters and observers are being well-behaved at the polls, and we are not hearing of any major problems. While there have been a few isolated issues with voting equipment malfunctions (jammed ballots, etc.), they are being addressed.

Our staff continues to be busy assisting people who are calling in with questions about voting.

We are hearing of a few businesses who have either been handing out food to people in line waiting to vote or offering deals to people who have already voted. While this has not been a widespread problem, it is illegal under Wisconsin law, and businesses should not do it.

 

Election update -- 3 p.m.

Wisconsin voters continue going to the polls this afternoon, and so far we are not aware of any major issues.

We do not have any numbers on turnout -- just annecdotal reports that turnout continues to be heavy around the state.

We have seen some minor issues around the state of the kind that we would expect on a big Election Day -- some voting equipment issues that are being handled by municipal clerks.

One minor issue we've become aware of is that some voters are over-voting in the presidential race by selecting one of the two major party candidates and a minor party candidate. When they try to insert their ballot in the machine, it gets rejected and they have to fill out another ballot. We would urge voters to carefully study the ballot before marking it.

 

 

Update -- 5 p.m.

We've been in a slower voting period this afternoon, but voting is expected to pick up again after people get off work and finish supper.

Some fact and figures about voting in Wisconsin:

  • Wisconsin has 5.7 million residents, of which 4.38 million are of voting age.
  • Wisconsin had 3,515,230 registered voters on November 2, with many more registering today at the polling place -- something they've been able to do since 1976.
  •  The Government Accountability Board does not have a running total on turnout.
  • Turnout in 2008 was 2.98 million.
  • Turnout in 2004 was 3.02 million.
  • Turnout in the 2012 recall election in June was 2.6 million.
  • For this election, the G.A.B. is predicting turnout of approximately 3 million voters -- or 70 percent of eligible voters.
  • Wisconsin's elections are run by the 1,851 municipal clerks, 62 percent of which are part-time.
  • There will be approximately 30,000 election officials/poll workers on the job today.

 

Voting heavy in Kenosha and Racine

6 p.m. -- G.A.B. is receiving reports of heavy voting in Southeast Wisconsin with some polling places in Racine and Kenosha being close to running out of ballots. We have been advised that Racine is currently printing more ballots.

 

Where to get election results

In Wisconsin, unofficial Election Night results are gathered and published by the Associated Press, which gathers returns from all 72 counties and provides unofficial results to its members. Some television stations in Wisconsin that are not AP members are also collecting election results.

Wisconsin county clerks do not report their official results to the Government Accountability Board until after they have completed their county board of canvassers. The deadline for them to report results is Tuesday, November 20.

Racine and Kenosha update

Apologies for any earlier confusion. Ballot shortages were reported in cities of Racine and Kenosha, not the counties.

We understand the Racine city clerk and the mayor are out delivering ballots.

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