| WISCONSIN | 10 Electoral Votes |
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| Population
(Source: U.S. Census Bureau, State Elections Board) Total Resident Population, July 1, 2019 est. 5,822,434 Voter Registration, Nov. 1, 2020 3,684,726 > Wisconsin has: 72 counties. Largest counties: Milwaukee, Dane, Waukesha, Brown, Racine. Largest cities: Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha, Racine. Government
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State of
Wisconsin Wisconsin Elections Commission Democratic
Party
of WI Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, p  The Badger
State
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| Voting
Deadlines and Facts Oct. 14, 2020 - The deadline to register to vote online (by 11:59 p.m.) or by-mail (postmarked). Oct. 30, 2020 at 5 p.m. - The deadline to register to vote at your clerk's office or other designated location. You can register at your polling place on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020. Three options for voting. + >
Litigation |
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Ballot Access "Under Wisconsin law, independent presidential candidates can get on the ballot by filing a minimum of 2,000 valid signatures of Wisconsin electors on nomination papers, as well as a Declaration of Candidacy form for both the presidential and vice-presidential candidates." Five candidates filed (+). The Wisconsin Elections Commission ruled against ballot access for the Green Party ticket and for Kanye West; both sued to qualify. On Sept. 11 Brown Co. Circuit Judge John Zakowski ruled that West's team had failed to file in a timely manner (+). On Sept. 14 the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled against Hawkins citing "the lack of sufficient time to complete our review and award any effective relief (+)." |
Overview:
As expected,
Wisconsin saw a closely fought contest, and was the case
in other battleground states, the two candidates and
campaigns took decidedly different approaches. The Trump campaign kept up a very
active schedule of campaign travel by the principals and
surrogates, including airport rallies by Trump, Trump
family member events, surrogate bus tours, busy field
offices and people out knocking on doors. By late
October the campaign claimed 12 million voter contacts
in Wisconsin. The Biden campaign stuck to largely
virtual events, and the candidates made just a handful
of visits. Rulings by the Wisconsin Elections Commission kept the Green Party ticket, as well as Kanye West, off the ballot. The total number of votes cast, 3,298,041, was the highest in a Wisconsin election. Based on voting age population of 4,536,417, the turnout rate of 72.3% was the highest since the 2004 election. Post-recount, Biden won by 20,682 votes (0.63 percentage points). Trump carried 58 counties to 14 for Biden. Wisconsin was again the third closest state, this time after Georgia and Arizona. Post-election, Wisconsin was one of half a dozen states where the Trump campaign contested the outcome. The campaign paid for a partial recount of just Milwaukee and Dane Counties and pursued a number of legal cases. Although Gov. Evers certified the results on Nov. 30, and the electors confirmed Biden as the winner on Dec. 14, Trump legal efforts continued to the end of the year, with the filing of a petition to the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 29. Trump | Biden General Election Details BALLOT [PDF] POST-ELECTION |
| [State Primary: August 11, 2020] |
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| Total votes
1,555,263. |
| Democrats
Biden 581,463 (62.86%), Sanders 293,441 (31.72%), Others 46,571 (5.03%), Uninstr. 3,590 (0.39%)... Total 925,065. details 97 Delegates: 55 District, 19 At-Large, 10 PLEO and 13 Unpledged. |
Republicans
Trump 616,782 (97.87%), Uninstructed 11,246 (1.78%), w/in 246. Total |
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| 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 | 2016 |
| Clinton 41.13% |
Clinton 48.81% |
Gore 47.83% |
Kerry 49.70% |
Obama 56.22% |
Obama 52.83% |
Trump 47.22% |
and
the details...
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| Voting Eligible
Population*:
4,295,057. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 69.3%. (fifth highest after MN, ME, NH and CO). *In Wisconsin one can register at the polling place on Election Day with proof of residence. Nov. 2, 2016 registration: 3,558,877. Late registrations: 61,505 (2.05%). Election Day registrations: 381,444 (12.70%). 1, 2 |
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Total voters: 3,004,051. Absentee electors: 819,316 ...27.27%. |
Overview:
Donald Trump achieved a surprise victory in
Wisconsin, becoming the first Republican nominee tto
carry the Badger State since Ronald Reagan in 1980
and 1984. Although Clinton lost the April 5 primary to Sen. Bernie Sanders by 56.6% to 43.0%, she did not make a single post-primary visit while Trump and Pence stopped in periodically throughout the fall. The Trump campaign also made a late digital and TV advertising push here and in Michigan. The Clinton campaign and the pro-Clinton Priorities USA Action invested relatively little in advertising in Wisconsin. In 2016 provisions of the controversial voter ID measure signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker back in May 2011 finally took effect even as the measure was enmeshed in ongoing litigation . Turnout (highest office as a share of voting eligible population), although the fifth highest of any state, was down 3.3% from 2012 and was the lowest since 2000. There was a recount, but it affected the results only marginally. Trump finished with a plurality of 22,748 votes (0.74 percentage points), carrying 60 counties to 12 for the Democratic ticket. Wisconsin was the third closest state after Michigan and New Hampshire. General Election Details Clinton | Trump BALLOT [PDF] |
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| Voting Eligible
Population*:
4,120,694. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 72.4%. In Wisconsin one can register at the polling place on Election Day with proof of residence. |
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2012 Overview Republicans saw encouraging signs in their success in the June 5 recall election and Romney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan put the state in play, but when the votes were counted the Obama-Biden ticket won with a plurality of 213,019 votes (7.06 percentage points), carrying 35 counties to 37 for Romney-Ryan. Wisconsin had the second highest turnout as a percentage of voting eligible population, trailing only Minnesota. General Election Details Obama | Romney BALLOT [PDF] |
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| Voting Eligible
Population*:
4,113,565. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 72.5%. As of Oct. 31, 2008 there were 3,502,196 registered voters. In Wisconsin one can register at the polling place on Election Day with proof of residence. Registered voters can vote absentee and are not required to provide any reason. + |
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2008 Overview In both 2004 and 2000, the Democratic margin of victory in the presidential race had been less than one percentage point; indeed in 2004 Wisconsin had the smallest margin of any state. 2008 was a very different story as the Obama-Biden ticket won by a comfortable margin, gaining a plurality of 414,818 votes (13.91 percentage points) and carrying 59 counties to 13 for McCain-Palin. General Election Details Obama/Allies | McCain/Allies | Nader |
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| Voting Eligible
Population*:
4,006,948. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 74.8%. Wisconsin has Election Day registration at polling place with verification of residence (since 1976). Total voters: 3,003,083. No early voting; people can request an absentee ballot from their municipal clerk without providing an explanation. Municipal clerks (there are 1,850) can start sending out absentee ballots to people who have requested them 30 days before the election. Absentee vote: 364,639. |
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2004 Overview As in 2000 the race in Wisconsin was tightly fought to the end and as in 2000 the Democratic ticket narrowly prevailed. Kerry-Edwards secured a plurality of 11,384 votes (0.38 percentage points). Bush carried 45 counties to 27 for Kerry. Wisconsin received numerous visits from the candidates and their wives, and intense advertising (Milwaukee Mix: The Ad Campaign). General Election Details | Photos Kerry/Allies | Bush-Cheney '04 |
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| Voting Eligible
Population*:
3,842,044. VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 67.6%. Total voters: 2,619,184. Absentee vote: 160,425. |
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2000
Overview Both major campaigns poured significant resources into the battleground state of Wisconsin. Ralph Nader's appeal in this state gave the Bush forces grounds for optimism, but on Election Day the Gore-Lieberman ticket eked out a narrow win, gaining a plurality of 5,708 votes (0.22 percentage points) over Bush-Cheney. Bush carried 46 counties to Gore's 26. By comparison, in 1996, when Dole did not actively compete in the state, the Dole-Kemp ticket carried just 11 counties, while Clinton-Gore won in 61. Four-term Gov. Tommy Thompson was an ardent Bush supporter, and his organization provided a foundation for Bush's strong showing as the state's electors nearly went into the Republican column for the first time since 1984. General Election Activity | Photos |
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1992
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1996
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