MONROE — Spring means elections in Wisconsin, and even before the April 1 voting begins, absentee voting has been moving at a brisk pace, say local officials, including Green County Circuit Clerk Arianna Voegeli.
“The headline has been that early absentee voting is already up from our last election,” she said recently, as March counted down into to the spring election and the statewide rhetoric heated up.
In Lafayette County, Deputy County Clerk Laurie Monson said that school referenda in some areas might pique some interest, but overall, the volume of early absentee voting in that office has not seemed higher than usual.
“It’s definitely less than we would see with a presidential,” election, Monson said.
For those voting in person, the spring general election is Tuesday, April 1, with polls open statewide from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ballot includes two statewide races and one statewide referendum.
One statewide race has garnered national attention — with the world’s richest man, and ardent federal cost-cutter, Elon Musk, even donating to help a candidate for Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The state Supreme Court race to replace retiring Justice Ann Walsh Bradley features former Attorney General and current Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel against Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford for a 10-year term.
The high court has been at the heart of a long-running battle over legislative maps in the state, among other hot-button issues.
In the area of state education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction race features incumbent Jill Underly, the former Pecatonica School District superintendent, and educational consultant Brittany Kinser, a former special education teacher. Underly and Kinser finished first and second in the Feb. 18 primary, with Sauk Prairie School District superintendent Jeff Wright, a former Democratic candidate in the 51st Assembly District, eliminated.
Another issue with national implications on Election Day is a constitutional amendment referendum to require voters to produce photo ID to vote in Wisconsin. Voter ID is already required by state law. But Sen. Van Wanggaard, (R-District 21), the bill’s coauthor, said, “The only way to ensure that our future Supreme Court will not overturn voter ID is to enshrine this basic election integrity law in Wisconsin’s constitution.”
Constitutional amendments require the approval of consecutive legislatures and then a majority vote in a statewide referendum.
Closer to home in Brodhead, candidates for municipal office, including at-large alderpersons, are running unopposed.
The School District of Monroe Board of Education has had plenty of headlines in recent years, as the district tries to maintain programs in the face of a recent, failed operating referendum. Six candidates are running in the election for three open school board seats. They are, in ballot order: Nicole Josephs, Michael Davis, Nicholas Baker, Caleb Ahrens, Dylan McGuire and Stephen Mayer.
In the Town of Adams, Daniel M. Holland is facing Emily Harris in the race for Township Chairman. Two supervisor races also are on the ballot in that township — in Supervisor 1 race, Dixie Stechschulte and James Scheider face off; along with Peter Herman and Martin Ostby in Supervisor 2. Stechschulte, meanwhile, is also on the ballot for Town of Adams clerk along with Daniel Crandall.
Three candidates are unopposed for the Albany School District Board. But in Juda, three candidates — Kendra Sullivan, Eric Munz and Courtney Martins — are vying for a pair of open seats on the Juda School District School Board.
In the Town of Jefferson, Douglas S. Mayer and Rick Nusbaum are competing to be Town Board Chairman. In the Jefferson Supervisor 2 race, Jerad RK Norton, will square off against Nathan Weber.
In the Town of Mt. Pleasant, Ronald Koci is running against Taylor M. Pfeuti in the Town Board Supervisor 2 race.
The ballot in New Glarus will see two candidates run for Town Board Chairperson — Chris Narveson and Rob Ready.
There are several contested races in the Town of Spring Grove. Patrick Faessler will compete against Steve Goecks for town chairman. The Supervisor 1 race in that town also has Matt Mordhorst against Ted Lengel; while in Supervisor 2, a pair of Ricks will go head-to-head — Rick Harding and Rick Austin.
Two are vying for the Town Board Chairman job in Sylvester Township — Anna Anderson and Julie Williams. In the Town of Washington, two are running for Supervisor 1 Glenn Burgy and Calvin Wasserstrass. The Town of Washington Clerk post has two candidates, Nikkoleen Bongard and Steven Krebs.
In the Village of Albany, four are running for three trustee seats on the village board. They are: Michelle Monson, Brooke Helley, Bert Hefty, Paul C. Rhyner. And in the Village of Monticello four candidates — Dawn Pederson, Robert Labarre, Dale Atkinson, and Dennis Holcomb.
Lafayette County
In Lafayette County, a trio of school districts are seeking increased taxpayer support. Black Hawk School District is seeking approval of a ballot question to exceed revenue limits by $850,000 per year for three years.
The Cuba City school ballot question is more specific and seeks even more from taxpayers: “Shall the School District of Cuba City, Grant and Lafayette Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $900,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, by $1,300,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, by $1,500,000 for the 2027-2028 school year, by $1,700,000 for the 2028-2029 school year, and by $1,900,000 for the 2029-2030 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of operational and maintenance expenses?”
In Shullsburg, officials are seeking to exceed the revenue limit by $975,000 starting with the 2025-26 school year, a recurring referendum question.
— Platteville Journal Editor Steve Prestegard contributed to this report.
