Same-Day Voting Strongly Supported In Milwaukee, Dane County Referenda

Ballot questions supporting same-day voter registration have won easy victories in two large Wisconsin communities.

Ballots in the city of Milwaukee and Dane County asked voters advisory questions on whether Wisconsinites should be able to continue to register to vote, and then vote on the same day. Some Republicans claim same-day voter registration opens the door to fraud. Voters by large majorities said yes to the referenda. Michael Rosen heads the faculty union at the Milwaukee Area Technical College. His local campaigned in favor of the Milwaukee ballot question. Rosen says the result sends a message to Republicans who control the State Capitol: “that the people of Wisconsin – and particularly Milwaukee – value their right to vote and don’t want anyone tampering with that right.”

Rosen says conservative politicians could ignore the results of the advisory referenda, but would undermine democracy if they do so. Republican Governor Scott Walker says he’s not in favor of ending same-day registration and voting.