Tuesday’s winter storm significantly impacted Election Day, whether you were casting a ballot or counting the votes. The Wisconsin State Journal found that voter turnout across the state was at 25 percent, which was lower than last year despite having two statewide referendums and the Presidential primary on the ballot. Throwing a wrench into the equation was an Election Day snowstorm that limited travel across the state. That included northeast Wisconsin, where the storm hit as schools and workplaces let out for the day. Turnout in Door County far outpaced the rest of the state, with 50 percent of registered voters casting a ballot. Door County Clerk Jill Lau says the more significant issue came after the polls closed when many municipalities lost power, limiting their ability to transmit results.
Lau was happy that voters adjusted their schedules to accommodate the path of the storm, as polling sites experienced higher-than-normal traffic earlier in the day compared to the usual rush in the evening.