Low voter turnout in primary could tighten GOP Senate race
MILWAUKEE -- Voters took to the polls Tuesday, August 14th in Wisconsin's partisan primary. Though a low voter turnout was expected for this election, many made their way to the polls to cast their ballot.
The state's Government Accountability Board released its prediction for the primary Tuesday, July 24th -- three weeks before the election. That equates to about 870,500 voters.
The highest turnout in a non-gubernatorial fall primary in the past 20 years was 21 percent in 1992.
In addition to the statewide U.S. Senate race, there are also primaries in two of eight congressional districts, five of 16 state Senate districts and 39 of 99 Assembly districts.
Roger Pillsbury showed up to vote in downtown Milwaukee at 7:15 a.m. for the statewide recall election back on June 5th and had to wait in line. This time, Pillsbury was in and out.
Though officials and voters have said they expect Tuesday's voter turnout to be low, hotly-contested state Assembly races may bring more voters to some precincts -- and a low voter turnout could actually tighten the GOP U.S. Senate race.
Lasheena Jackson brought her boys with her to the polls Tuesday.
"For them to get the opportunity to see that this is how you make a change. If you want your voice to be heard, this is what you come and do, and they love it," Jackson said.
Some needed a little help Tuesday grasping the concept of partisan voting.
"Questions about the ballot and about the whole concept of only being able to vote in one political party -- our poll workers are probably providing a higher level of assistance than normal, but otherwise everything`s going great at the site," Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Neil Albrecht said.
Because this is a partisan primary, voters must vote along party lines.
"The ballot is divided into four party sections -- one for each of the four parties that appears. It's the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, the Constitution Party and Americans Elect," Neil Albrecht, executive director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission said.
Voters will not be able to vote for a candidate in the Republican U.S. Senate primary race and an Assembly person in the Democratic race -- for example. That's called "cross-party voting," and it's not allowed in Tuesday's partisan primary.
Voters who "cross-party vote" will have their ballot rejected by the voting machines, or the machines will take the ballot -- but not count all of the votes.
Polls are open until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Reminder: You don't need a photo ID to vote in this election, but you must sign the poll book.
CLICK HERE for election information via Milwaukee Election Commission’s website.
CLICK HERE for election information via Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board’s website.
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