WisPolitics.com Election Blog

Republicans are starting to gather at Scott Walker's campaign headquarters in West Allis to watch the GOP primary returns.

With no primary for the county executive, Walker isn't present. However, he had a party here from 6 to 8 p.m. for campaign volunteers.

With McCain having his official election night party in Columbus, Ohio, the party in Milwaukee is serving as a de facto McCain victory party.

When a television reporter asked to speak to a Huckabee supporter, GOP volunteers there said they couldn't find one.

Huckabee's watch party is being held in Waukesha.

The 4th C.D. Republican Party Chair Bob Spindell, who also serves as a city of Milwaukee election commissioner, said that the polls in the University of Milwaukee area still had lines at polling places going outside the door 7:15 p.m., and polling places around Marquette University had high turnout. Spindell said that college students will definitely have an impact on the primary tonight.

-- By David Wise

Labels: 2008 spring primary, Turnout

As the polls are closing around the state, here's a snapshot of some of the city clerks' estimates around the state for voter turnout.

Milwaukee election commissioner Sue Edman wouldn't guess voter turnout, but said "Oh my gosh ... it's been busy all day ... a lot of activity."

Edmond said there has been a lot of new voter registration, and several wards requested additional ballots.

The Madison city clerk's office said it expects around a 40 percent turnout and "everything is going very well."

The Beloit city clerk's office could only offer a guess of 50 percent voter turnout, saying "it's been a very busy day." One ward requested extra ballots.

Janesville City Clerk Jean Wulf said she guesses voter turnout was around 40 percent, and she had to move some ballots around to different polling places.

The La Crosse city clerk's office said the turnout felt like it was around 40 percent and say "very heavy registration."

-- By Matt Dolbey

Labels: 2008 spring primary, Turnout

Milwaukee Election Commission assistant director Neil Albrecht said the spring election is going "very well" there, but there's been fairly low voter turnout thus far.

Dane and La Crosse county officials also said things were going slow there, but Washington County officials say they've had to print more ballots to meet demand.

Albrecht blamed the low turnout on the weather, which was the worst during the normal push of pre-work morning voting, with some streets and sidewalks flooding during a thunderstorm.

Albrecht said he expects many to come in and vote after work, though. He also said things are running smoothly in the 6th District Alderman recall election.

Brown, Dane and La Crosse County clerks offices said they have not received reports of troubles so far during the election, and the offices in Brown and Dane County noted things are even a little slow.

Brown County clerk Darlene Marcelle said she the top-end of voter turnout expectations could reach around 25 percent to 30 percent.

Washington County Clerk Brenda Jaszewski said the additional ballots were needed to keep up with heavy voter turnout, which has been higher than usual for April elections. She declined to make a prediction on what overall turnout would be.

In addition to the Supreme Court race -- featuring Washington County Judge Annette Ziegler and Madison attorney Linda Clifford -- and a number of municipal elections, county electors are also voting on an a land preservation program through which the county would spend $800,000 annually to purchase development rights.

The balloting has been going smoothly overall, Jaszewski said, however, a touch screen voting machine in one polling location suffered from a programing error that only allows electors to vote in one of three school board races that can be voted on there. Most people, however, vote by paper ballots, Jaszewski said, and noted that the machine is working for the Slinger school board race, which is expected to have the heaviest turnout.


-- By Matt Dolbey and David Wise

Labels: 2007 spring election, Turnout