As we head into a busy election year, I’d like to take the opportunity to explain the election process here in the City of Monroe. This year, there will be three elections: the spring nonpartisan election on Tuesday, April 7; the statewide partisan primary on Tuesday, August 11; and the statewide general election on Tuesday, November 3. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
The spring election is when most local offices are contested. In the City of Monroe, voters will elect five at-large City Council members, the mayor, three School Board members, one judge for the 4th Court of Appeals, the city’s nine County Supervisors, and one Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. All of these races are nonpartisan, meaning candidates do not declare a party affiliation. I appreciate this aspect of Wisconsin election law because it prevents candidates from being immediately labeled as “liberal,” “conservative,” or “independent.” Instead, residents are encouraged to learn about each candidate’s positions, and officeholders are not beholden to national or out-of-state party organizations. If there is an unusually large number of candidates for a particular office, a primary election may be held. That will not be necessary in 2026.
The second and third elections are linked: winners of the August 11 statewide primary will advance to the November 3 general election. If only one candidate from each party files for a race, the primary may not be contested and the focus will shift directly to the general election. For example, at least four Democratic candidates have announced their intention to run for Wisconsin Senate District 17, meaning they will compete in the primary, with the winner advancing to face at least one Republican challenger in November. This year, we will likely see primaries — and will definitely see general elections — for Wisconsin Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Wisconsin Assembly District 50, Wisconsin Senate District 17, the 2nd Congressional District, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
So, what happens on Election Day? Like most states, Wisconsin’s elections are highly decentralized and overseen by more than 1,900 local election officials. In Monroe, City Clerk Nikolai Wahl is responsible for establishing our polling place at City Hall, securing voting equipment, supervising poll workers, maintaining voter lists, and overseeing the election process. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Voting will feel slightly different this year because the city has transitioned to an electronic poll book system called Badger Book. Badger Book is integrated with WisVote.wi.gov and streamlines voter check-in, registration, and absentee ballot processing. The units connect with each other at the polling place but do not connect to the internet or external networks. When polls close, voting machines tabulate the results and generate both a paper record and a digital copy. The following day, both are sent to the County Clerk for verification and consolidation with countywide results. Finally, all county results are uploaded to the state system. This multi-layered process makes our elections highly secure and difficult to tamper with. Despite headlines to the contrary, voter fraud is extremely rare in Wisconsin. In 2024, there were only 46 suspected cases out of 3.4 million votes — about 0.001 percent.
One aspect of elections that can be confusing is the options available for voters who cannot vote in person on Election Day. Unlike Election Day voting, these options are not outlined in the state constitution and have evolved over time. For all three elections in Monroe this year, voters may vote early in person beginning March 24 or vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots may be put in the mail, returned at City Hall or placed in the white drop box located across from the Post Office.
I hope this overview has helped clarify how local and statewide elections work in Monroe. Now it’s up to you. I encourage everyone to participate in all three elections this year. Voters may register and request absentee ballots online at myvote.wi.gov or in person at City Hall. That same website can also be used to check your registration status and voter history. While national elections tend to dominate the news, local elections are where your vote often has the greatest impact. It is not uncommon for local races to be decided by just a handful of votes. When you vote for local leaders, you are choosing individuals who are far more accessible and receptive to your ideas for improving our community.
— Matt Scheaffer is an elected alderman of the City of Monroe Common Council. He can be reached at msheaffer@cityofmonroe.org
