Vote turnout could hit 30 percent Tuesday
Reader poll
In case you've tuned out the louder-than-usual commercials, yard signs and Facebook statuses reminding you to vote … you'd better tune back in.
Tuesday is Election Day.
Voters will re-elect or remove members of local municipal and school boards. And the Wisconsin Supreme Court campaign has drawn national attention.
Much of the energy from protests and counter-protests opposing or supporting Gov. Scott Walker's plan to eliminate most public-sector collective bargaining has been focused largely on the court race.
That race is expected to drive up voter turnout. Rock County Clerk Lori Stottler predicts 30 percent of registered county voters will cast ballots Tuesday. For a typical spring election, the county usually has a 20 percent turnout.
Although a judicial seat is not a partisan position, many have pegged incumbent Judge David Prosser as a conservative and challenger Joanne Kloppenburg as a liberal.
In Janesville, six candidates seek three seats on the Janesville School Board.
Eight candidates are running for four seats on the Janesville City Council. Three incumbents—Frank Perrotto, Russ Steeber and George Brunner—will face five challengers—Deb Dongarra-Adams, K. Andreah Briarmoon, Mike Knilans, Billy McCoy and Sam Liebert.
News stories about the candidates in those races were in the Gazette on March 23 and 24. The stories also may be found online at GazetteXtra.com.
The Gazette's endorsements for Janesville council and school board ran in Saturday and Sunday's papers.
If you are new to the community or to voting, the county clerk can help you find where to vote. In Rock County, call (608) 757-5660 or visit www.co.rock.wi.us. In Walworth County, call (608) 741-4241 or visit www.co.walworth.wi.us.
If you can't make it to the polls Tuesday, you have until 5 p.m. today to fill out an absentee ballot, according to the Wisconsin Governmental Accountability Board website. However, voters should double check the clerk's regular office hours, the accountability board urges. Some clerks' offices might close before 5 p.m.
If you vote by absentee ballot in person in the clerk's office, you must fill out the ballot and seal it in an envelope immediately. Ballots may not leave the office.
If you need to register to vote, you will need your drivers license number and proof of residence. You can check whether you are registered at gab.wi.gov.
Apr 5, 2011 at 5:42 p.m.
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Katy, I'm with you. And regardless of who comes out on top, ya don't vote... Ya got NO voice! JUST like back in November, in my opinion.
I think Milton will top 30% from what I saw. For a community of 5,700 people and about 60% are registered voters, there were already 1,212 people that had cast their vote. The line was out the door, into the parking lot, when I stopped by after work.
Apr 5, 2011 at 4:54 p.m.
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It's a sad day when 30% voter turnout is considered "high" for any election. What is wrong with you people? If only 30% of you are voting on a GOOD turnout, a whole lot of you who complain have no blinking right to open your yaps. No vote, no complaints allowed. It's my motto.
Apr 5, 2011 at 3:58 p.m.
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inde- that statement makes entirely too much sense. As the saying goes "absolute power corrupts absolutely." However, with what Walker has done in short order, shows he was corrupt from the get go.
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Can you imagine a day where we'd be begging for a check/balance to democrat power? I for one will be asking for it, if/when some of Walker's damage is undone.
Apr 5, 2011 at 3:43 p.m.
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Kloppenberg should be elected just as some sort of "balance" of power. Walker has proven the point that our system needs checks and balances.
Apr 5, 2011 at 1:36 p.m.
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fearandrhetoric: It is sad if only 30% show up to vote. Very sad. It should be AT LEAST 60-70%.
Apr 5, 2011 at 1:32 p.m.
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SarahB81: Because the Gazette doesn't want to. They do not report ALL NEWS. They choose which news to report and which news not to report. I have also stated before that the Gazette did not report the article on ex-governor Lucey (who was Prosser's aide and co-chair) removing his support from Prosser and endorsing Kloppenburg. That happened about 1 wk. or ago ago. THAT TOLD IT ALL FOR ME. When Prosser's co-chair decided to go against him, that means Prosser is not "as white as the snow" as he claims to be. SO THAT IS WHY LUCEY THEN CHANGED HIS SUPPORT TO KLOPPENBURG.
Apr 5, 2011 at 1:32 p.m.
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I always thought Repubs hated "career politicians", unless theyre repubs. Love folks that talk out of both sides of their mouth!
@ ABE- Great article! Was looking through the comments and saw some Walker supporters there even asking why this is necessary!
Apr 5, 2011 at 1:16 p.m.
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gmaof3, could you explain what "in office" means, and why that would be a good qualification for a State Supreme Court Judge? I've seen that phrase used in attack ads against Kloppenburg, with no explanation.
Prosser was an 18 year poltician before he was appointed by Tommy Thompson. He had never been a judge, but admitted in 2006 that he broke the law while in office.
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:54 p.m.
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Fear -that socialism for the lobbyist son is chicken feed compared to the socialist TIFs and giveaways by Walker to his developer cronies.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/1...
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:42 p.m.
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Recent article focusing on Govs hiring of a lobbyists son to an 81,000 dollar position. Pay for play? Prosser will be a rubber stamp for this guy!
http://www.wkow.com/Global/story.asp?S=1...
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:39 p.m.
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Shrill MissScarlet is a riot. Sad thing is, your examples given are caricatures/stereotypes. The Tea Party chain of command, although they are phonies capable of duping the MissScarlets of the world, they are(at least for now) actually in office.
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Pathetic.
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:39 p.m.
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Bellagio, you don't get it. We aren't asking for socialism. We are trying to protect this country from becoming an oligarchy or plutocracy. Please look up those two words and tell me that with the current distribution of wealth, and influence of money in the political system, we are not almost there! I'm all for capitalism, just not the rule of the ultra-wealthy elite.
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:23 p.m.
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@unclesmoothie- We agree! The turnout should be closer to 70%! I wish we could find a way to vote on say .... a Saturday! Why it has to be a Tuesday Ill never know. Increased turnout should be the goal of EVERY reasonable American.
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:21 p.m.
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Gazette staff- Why was my comment removed? I follow your rules! No profanity was used at all! No attacks on fellow posters! Just curious. I am not allowed to state facts about the double standards of republicans? Career politicians were a thing of ridicule last ime and now it seems like that is what they want. I also stated that high turnout favors democrats, always does.
I always tried to think that this was an independantly run blog. I am starting to think that freedom of speech is quite partisan. With all due respect , could youplease email me and explai why I was out of line. I try to follow your rules. I certainly have posted MUCH more contraversial stuff than that!
How does turnout affect local races? Will be interesting to see. Please all get out and vote, one of the few remaining rights that everyone has.
Apr 5, 2011 at 11:32 a.m.
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how juvenile can one be to fire back at baseless assumptions...with arrogance and baseless assumptions??
Apr 5, 2011 at 10:43 a.m.
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Mouse: You don't know me and you don't have a clue how much money I donate to organizations that help children (which is probably more than you make)! Did you want to compare tax bills? Was that a yes? Your rhetoric is meaningless. When did it become a crime to have dinner with the Governor? The experience was a far classier than the drive to the hotel. We will see at the end of this election day who's voice will be heard.
Apr 5, 2011 at 10:33 a.m.
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30% turnout? Maybe Aldous Huxley was correct when he stated that the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions". Wake up, electorate!
Apr 5, 2011 at 10:15 a.m.
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The Journal Sentinel backed Walker. The fact that they back Prosser means nothing to me.
Apr 5, 2011 at 9:13 a.m.
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and I forgot Abe "The Babe" and Mouse "The Rodent".
Apr 5, 2011 at 8:49 a.m.
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@ missScarlet - you forgot Snooki!
Apr 5, 2011 at 8:46 a.m.
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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel endorses Prosser.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/119...
Apr 5, 2011 at 8:42 a.m.
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WOW!!!! A 30% turnout? Sheesh. That's a sorry state of affairs with all of the current issues everyone is complaining about. You'd think that number should be 60 to 70%.
Apr 5, 2011 at 3:55 a.m.
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Bottom line.... GET OUT AND VOTE!!!! Weather or not you are for the taxless billionare side or the over taxed middle class side.
Have a nice day!!
:-)
Apr 5, 2011 at 1:31 a.m.
Apr 5, 2011 at 1:28 a.m.
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The Janesville WI Democratic Party chain of command - Jessie Jackson, Michael Moore, Tony "The Bulldog", Paulie "The Gent", Carmine "El Loco", Vinney "The Chop".
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:19 a.m.
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The Janesville WI Tea Party chain of command - Koch, Walker, Prosser, Fitzgerald, Knilans, Perrotto, Sodemann.
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Pathetic.
Apr 5, 2011 at 12:10 a.m.
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That shrill noise we're hearing is the sound of a tea party breaking up.
Apr 4, 2011 at 10:35 p.m.
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All the lies, cursing and screaming by those extreme radical protesters will be silenced tomarrow, when all their canidates lose. Judge Prosser will trounce that woman, who doesn't and couldn't qualify for dog catcher, under Gov. Doyle 4 times she tried and was denied a Judgeship. She has no qualifications at all.
Apr 4, 2011 at 9:55 p.m.
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Mouse: "Remember, Wisconsin is open for business always! Wisconsin is not for sale to wealthy who don't pay tax." - Which rock have you been living under Mouse? Would you like to compare tax bills? Please let me know if you would...I would be happy to!!
Apr 4, 2011 at 9:52 p.m.
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Can't wait to vote for Prosser and Perrotto! The P's have my votes!
Apr 4, 2011 at 9:24 p.m.
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Mouse... you can get off the "koch" crap, anytime. You are clueless, in my opinion.
Apr 4, 2011 at 9:23 p.m.
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And what is Kloppenburg's background? She has NEVER been "in office"... she is a small person and the best the liberals have to offer. Ok... "crickets chirping" here, yawn.
Apr 4, 2011 at 7:59 p.m.
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Prosser's overwhelming victory tomorrow will incite a flurry of comments from the angry public union mob.
Apr 4, 2011 at 7:31 p.m.
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Prosser's hometown paper doesn't think much of either candidate, but chooses to endorse Kloppenburg.
"But here's something else that might have been missed amid Wisconsin's recent political ugliness. In 2006, Prosser said that while he was a legislative leader, staffers who worked under his direction did campaign work. He also acknowledged that in his interview with The P-C on March 18.
Here's a member of the highest court in Wisconsin, whose judges are expected to possess unimpeachable integrity, admitting he condoned illegal activity as an elected official.
Again, it was against the law. You'd think Prosser would acknowledge that, even if he didn't agree. But he told The P-C that "it was a different era and public expectations were quite different."
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/2011...
Apr 4, 2011 at 7:25 p.m.
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Got this over the net. Can't verify it but here it is:
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"We had a person inside the Dave Hansen recall rally yesterday. Guest Speaker Scott Fitzgerald told the crowd inside that everything comes down to Tuesdays election. "If Prosser wins all of Walkers bills will go into effect, if Kloppenburg wins everything will be blocked and we are dead".
Apr 4, 2011 at 6:44 p.m.
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It's a shame that we're this excited over a thirty percent turnout.
Hopefully voters will favor a fair approach to the state’s highest court rather than an attempt to position the court as a complement to extreme left-wing judicial activism.
Apr 4, 2011 at 5:26 p.m.
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"Prosser has been a speaker at right-wing events, where he’s shared the spotlight with some of the most ardent foes of equality. A good example is the Defending the American Dream Summit, which was sponsored by a coalition that reads like a who’s who of right-wing Wisconsin extremist groups, including the Wisconsin Family Council.....Hopefully voters will favor a fair approach to the state’s highest court rather than an attempt to position the court as a complement to extreme right-wing ideology."
http://www.wisconsingazette.com/opinion/...
Apr 4, 2011 at 4:52 p.m.
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And a citation from an equally non-partisan source with Prosser's endorsements.
http://www.cudahynow.com/blogs/community...
How many times has Kloppenburg been passed over? Who did the passing over? She sure don't appear ready for primetime! LOL!
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