In-person early voting begins on Tuesday in crucial battleground state Wisconsin, as political leaders make efforts to mobilize voters ahead of the upcoming election. Former President Barack Obama, alongside Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, is set to host a rally in the liberal city of Madison. Meanwhile, Republicans are planning their own events aimed at encouraging voters to support Donald Trump before Election Day.
In the 2020 election, Trump suffered a narrow defeat in Wisconsin, losing by fewer than 21,000 votes amid widespread early and absentee voting necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. With both Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris anticipating close margins again this year, both political parties are emphasizing the importance of early voting.
Historically, Trump has voiced strong opposition to mail-in voting, alleging that it leads to fraud; however, this year his campaign has adopted a more inclusive stance on various voting methods, including mail-in and early in-person voting. At a recent rally in Dodge County, Wisconsin, Trump even promoted the idea of early voting.
Brian Schimming, the Chairman of the Wisconsin Republican Party, highlighted on Monday that the message from Trump and the Republican party regarding early voting has been unmistakably clear. In a surprising move, he encouraged the use of absentee ballot drop boxes—something Trump had previously criticized, but which some Wisconsin Republicans continue to support.
“We need to avail ourselves of every imaginable way to get votes in,” Schimming expressed on a press call. He went on to advise Republicans, “If it’s the difference between getting a vote in, or not getting a vote in, I say put it in the mailbox or use the drop box.” Many Republican officials and candidates are also gearing up to cast their ballots on Tuesday.
U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, who serves southeastern Wisconsin, noted the unpredictable nature of November weather in the state, emphasizing the benefit of early voting while conditions are favorable. “It’s a great opportunity while the weather’s nice to get out to your local office and cast your vote and have that vote banked,” he said.
In Madison, Obama and Walz are expected to draw a strong crowd similar to Vice President Harris’s recent rally at the same location, which attracted over 14,000 attendees. These events are part of Obama’s efforts to stimulate early voting in key states.
Throughout the final days of the campaign, Harris has focused her attention on the so-called “blue wall” states, including Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, making several campaign stops, including those in Wisconsin and Michigan on Monday. On the other side, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance visited the conservative suburbs of Milwaukee this past Sunday.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party is also organizing multiple events statewide to encourage early voting, collaborating with liberal advocacy groups like Souls to the Polls, which aims to engage Black voters—a vital demographic in Wisconsin’s largest city, Milwaukee, known for producing significant Democratic votes.
Early voting in Wisconsin will run from Tuesday through Sunday, November 3, although specific locations and hours can vary across the state. Voters are not required to provide a reason for requesting absentee ballots. Starting in late September, mail-in ballots began being distributed, and as of Tuesday, voters can also request ballots in person at designated locations.
As of last Friday, over 305,000 absentee ballots had already been returned in Wisconsin. Voters can continue returning their ballots by mail, in person, or through absentee ballot drop boxes where they are available. Importantly, all absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.