As you know, Tuesday was an important election day in Wisconsin. Voters elected new local leaders in cities and towns across the state and also passed referendums that determined funding for schools and changed the constitution.
It was all hands on deck at the ACLU of Wisconsin across the team as we worked hard to provide education and ensure turnout in this crucial election. In February, our community engagement team held its first-ever Trivia Night event, bringing together more than 50 community members for a fun and voter education night. They also successfully registered 38 students to vote during a voter registration event with the League of Women Voters and the Shorewood High School Student Alliance.
Earlier this year, our advocacy department fought hard in the City of Milwaukee budget process to guarantee three early voting locations at UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Technical College, and the Capitol Drive Voting Center. Between canvassing, tabling, and text-banking, ACLU-WI reached 51,447 voters and encouraged them to vote in this election. We also worked to educate voters about the proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot, reaching more than 22,000 people and urging them to Vote “No.”
Our legal department staffed a nonpartisan Election Protection effort at our office, which fielded questions and solved issues at the polls during early voting and on Election Day. They recruited dozens of volunteers to observe issues at the polls and, with the help of coalition partners, responded to various issues reported either through the Election Protection hotline or from volunteers in the field.
We’re taking all the knowledge we gained in this election and bringing it into August and November, increasing our ability to respond and make a difference.
Election season is far from over, and now’s not the time to slow down. We must keep organizing, uplifting our communities, and voting our values this year. Let’s stay in the fight and keep pushing for a brighter future.
Your vote has enormous power in local and regional elections to bring about the change you want in your community. Let’s show our local leaders that we will hold them accountable to advocate for our neighbors, family, and friends this November. Stay current on how we’re preparing for the upcoming election and get involved as an Election Protection volunteer, legal observer, or canvasser.
There’s power in numbers. Together, we can fight for our rights and drive our country forward.
