On the first day of early in-person voting in battleground Wisconsin, voters lined up to cast their ballots as former President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz encouraged supporters to participate. The state saw a razor-thin margin in the 2020 election, with Donald Trump losing by a small margin. Both sides are urging voters to cast their ballots early, with the expectation of another close race. Walz emphasized the importance of every vote, saying even a few extra votes per precinct could make a difference in the outcome.
Obama, who drove to the event from Chicago after his plane had issues, criticized Trump and emphasized the tight nature of the upcoming election. He stressed the importance of early voting and was headed to Michigan after the event. Voters from various communities across Wisconsin, including both liberal and conservative areas, turned out to vote early. While some voters like Raymond Lathrop supported Trump for his business acumen, others like Maria Rodriguez voted for Harris based on issues like women’s reproductive rights.
Despite Trump’s previous criticism of mail-in voting, he and his supporters are now embracing all forms of voting, including early in-person voting. Higher turnout among Republicans has led to record-breaking numbers of early ballots cast in key states. Both the Wisconsin Democratic and Republican parties are encouraging early voting, recognizing its importance in the current election climate. The state has seen more than 360,000 absentee ballots returned as of Monday, and voters have until Election Day to return them.
Democratic vice presidential candidate Harris has been focusing on the “blue wall” states of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania in the final weeks of the campaign. This includes multiple stops in Wisconsin to rally supporters and encourage early voting. Republicans, including vice presidential candidate JD Vance, have also been active in the state, with a focus on conservative areas like suburban Milwaukee. Early voting in Wisconsin started on Tuesday and will continue through November 3, providing voters with multiple options for casting their ballot.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has been working to address delays in ballot processing due to higher-than-expected turnout. Voters can return their absentee ballots by mail, in person, or at designated drop boxes in some communities. Election officials are urging voters to return their ballots on time to ensure they are counted. Republican officeholders and candidates have been among those casting their early votes, recognizing the importance of participating in the election process. With the race expected to be tight, both parties are mobilizing their supporters to vote early and ensure their voices are heard on Election Day.
