WISCONSIN 10 Electoral Votes 
link to clickable map
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
Governor: Tony Evers (D) elected in 2018. 
State Legislature: Wisconsin Legislature   Assembly: 99 seats  Senate: 33 seats
Local: Towns, Cities and Counties, Tribes   NACO
U.S. House: 5R, 3D - 1.B.Steil (R) | 2. M.Pocan (D) | 3. R.Kind (D) | 4. G.Moore (D) | 5. J .Sensenbrenner (R) | 6. G.Grothman (R) | 7. T.Tiffany (R) | 8. M.Gallagher (R)
U.S. Senate: T. Baldwin (D) re-elected in 2018, Ron Johnson (R) re-elected in 2016.
2020
  


U.S. House: In WI-5 (northern and western suburbs of Milwaukee), Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R)'s retirement opened up a solidly Republican seat.  Sensenbrenner was the most senior member of Congress to retire this cycle; he was first elected to Congress in 1978.  As expected, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) defeated business consultant Tom Palzewicz (D).
Also note, in WI-7 (northern WI), Tom Tiffany (R) was elected in a May 12, 2020 special election; the seat was open due to Rep. Sean Duffy (R)'s retirement in Sept. 2019.
State Legislature:
All 99 Assembly seats and 16 of 33 Senate seats were up (even numbered districts).  Republicans retained control of both chambers.  The balance in the Senate went from 18R, 13D and 2v to 21R,12D and the House from 63R, 35D and 1v  to 61R, 38D.

State of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Elections Commission

Democratic Party of WI
Republican Party of WI
Libertarian Party of WI
WI Green Party

Constitution Party of WI

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, p
WSJ/Capital Times, p
Newspapers
TV, Radio

wispolitics.com

Politics1-WI
Ballotpedia-WI

wiflag
 The Badger State
General Election -- Tuesday, November 3, 2020
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. +  >
Absentee by mail
1,957,514
Absentee in person start Oct. 20
651,422
At the polls on Nov. 3*
689,105
*Obtained by subtracting abs. by mail and abs. in person from total at right.

Litigation
Official Results (post-recount) >
 
 
+Biden/Harris (Dem.)
1,630,866
(49.45)
Trump/Pence (Rep.)
1,610,184
(48.82)
Blankenship/Mohr (Const.)
5,146
(0.16)
Jorgensen/Cohen (Lib.)
38,491
(1.17)
Carroll/Patel (ASP)
5,259
(0.16)
w/ins (7)
1,728
(0.05)
scattering
6,367
(0.19)
Total........3,298,041

___________

Official Results (pre-recount)
 
 
+Biden/Harris (Dem.)
1,630,673
(49.45)
Trump/Pence (Rep.)
1,610,065
(48.83)
Blankenship/Mohr (Const.)
5,144
(0.16)
Jorgensen/Cohen (Lib.)
38,491
(1.17)
Carroll/Patel (ASP)
5,258
(0.16)
w/ins (7)
1,728
(0.05)
scattering
5,993
(0.18)
Total........3,297,352



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]
Presidential Preference Primary -- Tuesday, April 7, 2020
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


General Election Winners in Wisconsin, 1992-2016
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...

General Election -- Tuesday, November 8, 2016
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





Results (post-recount) >

 
+Trump/Pence (R)
1,405,284
(47.22)
Clinton/Kaine (D)
1,382,536 (46.45)
Johnson/Weld (L)
106,674
(3.58)
Stein/Baraka (G)
31,072
(1.04)
Castle/Bradley (C)
12,162
(0.41)
McMullin/Johnson (w/in)
11,855
(0.40)
Moorehead/Lilly (Ind.)
1,770

De La Fuente/Steinberg (Ind.)
1,502

more w/in candidates (8)
531

Scattering
22,764
(0.76)
Total........2,976,150

___________

Results (pre-recount)

 
+Trump/Pence (R)
1,404,000
(47.19)
Clinton/Kaine (D)
1,381,823 (46.44)
Johnson/Weld (L)
106,585
(3.58)
Stein/Baraka (G)
31,006
(1.04)
Castle/Bradley (C)
12,156
(0.41)
McMullin/Johnson (w/in)
9,998
(0.34)
Moorehead/Lilly (Ind.)
1,769

De La Fuente/Steinberg (Ind.)
1,514

more w/in candidates (8)
460

Scattering
26,002
(0.87)
Total........2,975,313


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]

 
General Election -- Tuesday, November 6, 2012
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.






Official Results >

 
Romney/Ryan (Rep.)
1,407,966
(45.89)
+Obama/Biden (Dem.)
1,620,985
(52.83)
Goode/Clymer (Const.)
4,930
(0.16)
Johnson/Gray (Ind.)
20,439
(0.67)
La Riva/Ramirez (Ind.)
526
(0.02)
White/Scherrer (Ind.)
533
(0.02)
Stein/Manski (Ind.) 7,665
(0.25)
Anderson/Rodriguez (w/in)
112

Barr/Sheehan (w/in) 88

Scattering
5,170
(0.17)
Total........3,068,434

"scattering" refers to write-in votes for unregistered candidates.
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]

General Election -- Tuesday, November 4, 2008
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.



+
Official Results >


+Obama/Biden (Dem.)
1,677,211
(56.22)
McCain/Palin (Rep.)
1,262,393
(42.31)
McKinney/Clemente (Grn.)
4,216
(0.14)
Barr/Root (Lib.)
8,858
(0.30)
Moore/Alexander (Ind.)
540
(0.02)
La Riva/Moses (Ind.)
237
(0.01)
Nader/Gonzalez (Ind.)
17,605
(0.59)
Baldwin/Castle (Ind.)
5,072
(0.17)
Wamboldt/Klimisch
764
(0.03)
Scattering
6,521
(0.22)
Total........2,983,417


On Sept. 9, 2008 Kevin J. Kennedy, Director and General Counsel of the Government Accountability Board certified nine candidates for the presidential ballot.
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


General Election -- Tuesday, November 2, 2004
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.
Official Results

+Kerry/Edwards (Dem.)
1,489,504 (49.70)
Bush/Cheney (Rep.) 1,478,120 (49.32)
Badnarik/Campagna (Lib.) 6,464 (0.22)
Cobb/LaMarche (Grn.) 2,661 (0.09)
Nader/Camejo (Ind.) 16,390 (0.55)
Harris/Trowe (SWP) 411 (0.01)
Brown/Hebert (Soc.) 471 (0.02)
Scatter 2,986 (0.1)
Total........2,997,007  

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

General Election -- Tuesday, November 7, 2000
Voting Eligible Population*: 3,842,044.
VEP Highest Office Turnout Rate: 67.6%.



Total voters: 2,619,184.
Absentee vote: 160,425.

Official Results


Bush/Cheney (Rep.)  1,237,279 (47.61)
+Gore/Lieberman (Dem.)  1,242,987 (47.83)
Browne/Olivier (Lib.)  6,640 (0.26)
Phillips/Frazier (Const.)  2,042 (0.07)
Nader/LaDuke (Grn.)  94,070 (3.62)
Moorehead/LaRiva(WWP)  1,063 (0.04)
Harris/Trowe (SWP) 306  - 
Hagelin/Goldhaber (Ref.) 878 (0.03)
Buchanan-Foster (Ref.) 11,446 (0.44)
Scattering 1,896 (0.07)
Total........2,598,607

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

1992 and 1996 General Elections

1992
Clinton (Dem.)....1,041,066 (41.13)
Bush (Rep.)..........930,855 (36.78)
Perot (Ind.)............544,479
 (21.51)
Others (11+scat).....14,714
(0.58)
Total........2,531,114

1996
Clinton (Dem.).....1,071,971 (48.81)
Dole (Rep.)............845,029  (38.48)
Perot (Ref.)............227,339
 (10.35)
Nader (Ind.).............28,723
(1.31)
Others (6+scat).......23,107
(1.05)
Total........2,196,169
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