MADISON, Wis. – In-person early voting launches this Tuesday across Wisconsin, a critical battleground state, as key political figures mobilize supporters. Former President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz will host a rally in Madison, while Republicans plan events to encourage early ballot casting for Donald Trump ahead of Election Day.
In the 2020 election, Trump lost Wisconsin by a narrow margin of just under 21,000 votes, influenced by a surge in early and absentee voting during the pandemic. With expectations of another tight race, both Democratic and Republican campaigns are urging voters to cast their ballots early.
Despite his previous criticisms of mail-in voting, which he labeled fraudulent, Trump has embraced all forms of voting this election cycle. He publicly supported early voting at a recent rally in Dodge County, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman Brian Schimming emphasized the importance of early voting on a press call, noting that utilizing absentee ballot drop boxes has become a part of their strategy, even though it was a method Trump once opposed. “We need to avail ourselves of every imaginable way to get votes in,” he stated. “If it’s the difference between getting a vote in or not, I say to Republicans, ‘Put it in the mailbox or put it in the drop box.’”
Numerous Republican officials and candidates are set to cast their votes on Tuesday. U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil emphasized the advantage of early voting, particularly noting Wisconsin’s unpredictable November weather.
Obama and Walz’s rally in the Democratic stronghold of Madison comes after a successful event by Vice President Kamala Harris last month, which attracted over 14,000 attendees. This rally is part of a broader initiative by influential Democrats to galvanize early voting in crucial states.
Harris has been active in Wisconsin and other “blue wall” states, intensifying efforts in the campaign’s final weeks. Meanwhile, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance visited conservative districts in Milwaukee.
The Wisconsin Democratic Party and various advocacy organizations are also hosting events to promote early voting, particularly targeting key demographics in Milwaukee, the state’s largest city.
Early voting in Wisconsin runs from Tuesday through Sunday, Nov. 3. Voters can now request absentee ballots at designated locations and vote in person. As of last Friday, over 305,000 absentee ballots had been returned statewide, with voters encouraged to submit their ballots by mail, in person, or at designated drop boxes before polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Day.
