Wisconsin had its most voters ever in Tuesday’s election, according to preliminary vote totals.

As of about 4 p.m. Tuesday, at least 3,415,306 Wisconsinites had voted in the presidential election, per the Associated Press. That’s with 99% of the vote reported and not including write-in votes for president, meaning the final voter total will be higher.

Wisconsin’s previous record turnout was in 2020, when just over 3.3 million voters cast a ballot in the general election., according to Wisconsin Elections Commission data since 1948.

Though the WEC hasn’t released final vote totals for the 2024 general election, Tuesday’s unofficial numbers would beat that record by at least 100,000 voters.

Republican Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the presidential election in Wisconsin, besting Vice President Kamala Harris.

With about 99% of Wisconsin’s ballots counted, Trump has a roughly 30,000 vote lead. That amounts to a little under one percentage point advantage, which would make the race eligible for a recount. With his victory in Wisconsin, the state’s 10 electoral votes pushed Trump over the 270 threshold and cemented his unprecedented return to the White House. 

Harris has not called for a recount in Wisconsin, but if she does, here’s how the process would work.

What is the margin required for a recount in Wisconsin?

In an election with more than 4,000 votes — which applies to the presidential race — the trailing candidate can demand a recount when the margin between the candidates is no more than one percent of the total votes cast.

There is no automatic recount in Wisconsin, even if the unofficial results are extremely close, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s manual for a recount.

Does a candidate have to pay for a recount in Wisconsin?

If the margin between the two candidates is 0.25% or less, the state pays for the recount. If the margin is above 0.25%, the campaign has to pay for the recount.

So, under the current margin, Harris would have to pay for the recount.

The Wisconsin Elections Commission would estimate the costs of the recount, such as personnel and travel costs and equipment rental fees, likely totaling a few million dollars.

Would the 2024 election recount take place statewide?

This isn’t clear yet. The petitioning candidate can specify that they want the entire election recounted, or just specific municipalities. Unlike local races or state legislative races, presidents are elected statewide.

The 2020 presidential recount in Wisconsin, for example, was a partial recount of results in Dane and Milwaukee counties.

If the trailing candidate requests a partial recount, the leading candidate can expand the recount in additional wards or municipalities.

What happened in the 2020 presidential recount in Wisconsin?

Following the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump requested a recount in some Wisconsin counties, as well as Georgia. The Wisconsin Election Commission ordered a partial recount of results in Dane and Milwaukee counties after receiving a $3 million payment from the Trump campaign. 

The recount was completed on Nov. 29, 2020, and the Chair of the Wisconsin Election Commissions signed the canvass statement for the election and recount on Nov. 30.

On Jan. 14, 2021, WEC issued a refund to the Trump campaign for about $545,000, which was the amount under the $3 million estimated cost of the recount.

Wisconsin Rapids-area voters on Tuesday elected several familiar faces to the state Senate and state Assembly.

Wisconsin Rapids-area voters on Tuesday elected several familiar faces to the state Senate and state Assembly. One race − Wisconsin’s 71st Assembly District − remained too close to call early Wednesday morning.

Here’s a closer look at those races.

Senate District 24

Patrick Testin defeated Collin McNamara for the District 24 seat in the Wisconsin State Senate. Testin has served two terms in the seat since 2017.

Testin, 36, is a Stevens Point resident who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and was a Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development Fellow in 2018.

In a press release sent at 11:46 p.m. Tuesday, Testin shared he was honored the people of the 24^th district voted for Testin to continue representing them.

“Tonight’s victory is a triumph of record over rhetoric, and I’m thrilled to be able to continue getting real results for the people of central and western Wisconsin,” he said in the announcement.

Here are the unofficial election night results as provided by the Associated Press. As of 12:27 a.m. Wednesday, 85.93% of estimated votes were in:

• Patrick Testin (i): 51,750 (58.7%)
• Collin McNamara: 36,402 (41.3%)

Assembly District 71 

Democrat Vinnie Miresse was leading Republican Bob Pahmeier for the District 71 seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly as of 1 a.m. Wednesday, but the race remained too close to call. Democrat Katrina Shankland served six terms in the seat since 2013 before filing for noncandidacy for the seat while she pursued candidacy for the 3rd Congressional District seat.

Here are the results as of 1 a.m. Wednesday, and we will update when they become official.

• Miresse: 18,631 (53.2%)
• Pahmeier: 16,417 (46.8%)

Assembly District 72

Scott Krug defeated Suzanne Campbell for the District 72 seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Krug has served seven terms in the seat since 2011.

Krug, 48, is a Rome resident who is a real estate agent with NextHome Partners in Wisconsin Rapids, serves as Adams County supervisor for District 18 and is a member of the Tri Lakes Management District in Rome. Krug earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Mid-State Technical College and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

Here are the unofficial election night results as provided by the Associated Press. As of midnight, 77.22% of estimated votes were in:

• Scott Krug (i): 18,772 (65.3%)
• Suzanne Campbell: 9,958 (34.7%)

Assembly District 86

John Spiros defeated John Small for the District 86 seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Spiros has served six terms in the seat since 2013.

Spiros, 62, is a Marshfield resident who served six years in the U.S. Air Force before earning an associate degree in criminal justice and serving as a police officer. Spiros is currently the vice president of safety and claims at Roehl Transportation.

Here are the unofficial election night results as provided by the Associated Press. As of midnight, 87.09% of estimated votes were in:

• John Spiros (i): 23,329 (67%)
• John Small: 11,511 (33%)

More election results: Wisconsin Rapids voters reject activist-written ATV/UTV ordinance

Election Day updates: What’s happening at the polls on Election Day across central Wisconsin

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK – Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@gannett.com.