Wisconsin Election System Faces 'Outages' on First Day of Early Voting

High Turnout Causes System Problems

Wisconsin's first day of in-person absentee voting saw a high turnout, which led to system problems and lags in the state's election system, according to officials. Some voters in Milwaukee reported waiting for several hours to vote, while the city of Glendale, Wisconsin, experienced "severe delays" and "periodic outages" due to the high voter turnout.

Wisconsin Elections Commission's Response

The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) later confirmed that the high turnout had caused "system lags" in the state's WisVote program. However, it was quick to assure that the issue had been resolved. The Commission also stated that some election clerks had experienced a period of slowness, which had also been addressed. The WisVote system is used by clerks across the state to print a label that can be placed on the outside of in-person absentee certificate envelopes. The Commission assured that the system lag did not affect any voter's ability to vote in-person absentee.

Increased WisVote System Capacity

The WEC staff worked to increase the WisVote system capacity to ensure that election clerks could keep pace with in-person absentee voting. WEC Chairwoman Ann Jacobs confirmed that voter turnout had been "through the roof" and "more than anticipated". She reassured that the problem had been fixed and that all votes would be counted.

Early Voting in Wisconsin

Early voting in Wisconsin began on Tuesday and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 3. In this state, voters do not need to provide a reason for voting absentee. Ballots started being sent by mail in late September, but from Tuesday, voters could request one at designated voting locations and cast their ballots in person.

Wisconsin as a Key Battleground State

Wisconsin is expected to be a key battleground state that could tip the scales in the 2024 presidential race. In both the 2016 and 2020 elections, the winner of the state was determined by slim margins. Former President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz urged supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris to vote early during a campaign event in Madison earlier this week.

Party Responses

Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Ben Wikler warned that given the new push from former President Donald Trump and Republicans in support of early voting, "Democrats should expect Republicans to vote in massive numbers." On the other hand, Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming stated that Trump and Republicans have been "very clear" in their support for voting early. As of Monday, more than 360,000 absentee ballots had already been returned in Wisconsin.

Bottom Line

The first day of early voting in Wisconsin was marked by high turnout and system lags. However, the Wisconsin Elections Commission was quick to address the issue and assure voters that their votes would be counted. With Wisconsin being a key battleground state, the high turnout and early voting could play a crucial role in the 2024 presidential race. What are your thoughts on this? Feel free to share this article with your friends and let us know your views. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.