Wisconsin
Here’s what to know about Wisconsin’s April 1 election, Supreme Court race
How to register to vote in Wisconsin (you’ll need a have a photo ID)
Here’s how to register and vote in Wisconsin.
In less than a month, Wisconsin voters will head to the polls for an election that will determine the state Supreme Court’s partisan control, select who holds local offices and possibly elevate the voter ID law to the state constitution.
Wisconsin’s spring election is April 1. Candidates who advanced from the Feb. 18 primary will appear on the April ballot.
There are plenty of deadlines to keep in mind before April 1, including when you can register to vote online, request an absentee ballot or vote early.
Here’s a guide to what Wisconsin votes for in April and information you’ll need to cast your ballot:
What does Wisconsin vote for in April election? Wisconsin Supreme Court? Wisconsin schools superintendent?
The April ballot includes a high-profile state Supreme Court race. There was no February primary since only two candidates are running: conservative Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel and liberal Dane County Judge Susan Crawford. The winner will replace longtime liberal justice Ann Walsh Bradley, who’s not running for reelection.
If Crawford wins, the court will keep its liberal majority. If Schimel wins, the court will switch to conservative control. The candidates will debate March 12 on WISN.
Voters will also choose Wisconsin’s superintendent of public instruction. Jill Underly, a Democrat, is running for reelection. Education consultant Brittany Kinser is backed by conservatives. A third challenger, Sauk Prairie Superintendent Jeff Wright, did not advance from the primary.
The April ballot also includes a statewide referendum question, asking if Wisconsin’s law requiring voters to show photo identification should be enshrined in the state constitution. Republicans pursued the referendum in part to protect the law from being overturned by a liberal-controlled Supreme Court.
Other local races on your ballot depend on where you live. Those may include spots on the city council, school board or judgeships. Many school districts also have funding referendums on the ballot. You can see what your ballot will look like ahead of time at myvote.wi.gov.
When can I register to vote for the Wisconsin April election?
There are a few ways to register to vote. If you want to register online at myvote.wi.gov, the deadline is March 12. That’s also the deadline to register by mail by sending your clerk a completed voter registration form.
Or, you can register in-person at your local clerk’s office until March 28 at 5 p.m. Wisconsin also has same-day voter registration, so you can register at the polls on April 1.
With any of these registration options, make sure to bring a proof of residence document that shows you live at your current address. This could be a utility bill, paystub or lease, for example.
When can I request an absentee ballot for the Wisconsin April election?
The deadline for most voters to request an absentee ballot is March 27 at 5 p.m. Deadlines are slightly longer for indefinitely confined, military or hospitalized voters.
If you’ve already requested an absentee ballot, your clerk must send it out by March 11. If you make a request after that day, your clerk must mail it out within two business days.
You will need to provide a photo ID when requesting an absentee ballot, just like you would when voting at the polls. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has a full list of acceptable photo IDs. Examples include a driver’s license, state ID card, tribal ID card or passport.
How do I return my absentee ballot for the Wisconsin April election?
If you want to send your ballot back through the mail, election officials generally recommend doing so at least a week in advance, or March 25.
There are other ways to return your absentee ballot, including bringing it to your polling place or central count location on Election Day, your clerk’s office or a drop box. It’s a good idea to check your clerk’s website to see if they have specific instructions for returning your ballot.
When can I vote early in the Wisconsin April election?
Clerks may hold in-person, absentee voting between March 18 and 30. It’s up to each community to decide how many days and locations to offer early voting. You can check myvote.wi.gov or contact your clerk to ask about availability.
Keep in mind that Wisconsin doesn’t allow voter registration on the Saturday, Sunday or Monday before an election. If you need to register or re-register, you can do so at early voting locations through March 28, or wait until Election Day to register at the polls.
Where do I find my polling place on Election Day for the Wisconsin April election?
You can find your polling place by typing your address into “Find My Polling Place” at myvote.wi.gov. Polls are always open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day in Wisconsin.
If your city offers early voting locations, you can’t just go to any of those on Election Day. You must go to your assigned polling place.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lawmakers Propose Ranked Choice Voting for All Elections
BELOIT, Wis. — State Senator Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) and Representative Clinton Anderson (D-Beloit) introduced LRB-5709 on March 5, legislation that would implement ranked choice voting for state, federal, and local elections in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin legislation would also eliminate the need for February primaries in nonpartisan elections.
Today, voters in Wisconsin almost never elect independent candidates, because the state’s elections are decided by first-past-the-post plurality voting (FPPV). In this system, a voter’s expression of preference is restricted to a single candidate. Each voter has just one choice, and if there are more than two candidates in the race, winning by plurality rather than majority is quite possible.
Consequently, no matter how attractive an independent candidate may seem in the spring, summer, and early fall of an election year, he or she will be tarnished as a “spoiler” on Election Day and will almost certainly lose.
This unfortunate situation reduces the supply of independent candidates willing to compete and perpetually forces Americans into one of two warring factions.
In contrast, ranked-choice voting (RCV) allows voters to express their true preference for each candidate by ranking them in order of preference.
If no candidate wins an outright majority, the candidate with the lowest number of first-place votes is eliminated, and the second-preference votes of his or her supporters are redistributed to the remaining candidates.
This “instant runoff” process continues until a majority winner is determined. Not only does RCV give voters “more voice” in elections, but it also has the potential to stop our political system from tearing us apart into two camps.
Senator Spreitzer called the bill an improvement over a system that forces strategic voting.
“Under ranked choice voting, voters can vote for the candidate they like the most instead of having to strategically vote against the candidate they like the least,” he said.
“It is a system that encourages positive campaigns, ensures that winners have the support of a majority of voters, and allows more candidates to run without being seen as a waste of a vote or a spoiler.”
Representative Anderson pointed to existing models as evidence that the system works.
“Ranked choice voting is not a new idea. It’s already working in states like Maine and Alaska, and in cities like New York City,” he said.
“Our current system rewards candidates for tearing each other down instead of building broad support. Ranked choice voting changes that. It encourages campaigns focused on issues and coalition-building, ensures nominees win with a true majority, and creates space for more voices beyond the two-party system.”
For the best analysis of the pernicious effects of a lack of competition in our political system, please read The Politics Industry by Wisconsinite Katherine M. Gehl and her co-author, Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter.
Wisconsin
2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Austin Brown, S, Wisconsin
It is never too early to evaluate defensive back depth for the 2026 NFL Draft. Todd Bowles’ defense relies heavily on versatile safeties who can rotate between deep coverage, the slot, and the box while maintaining physicality against the run. Identifying defensive backs who bring positional flexibility and strong tackling ability remains an important part of building depth in Tampa Bay’s secondary.
We are working through each position group this cycle. With that in mind, here is our report on Wisconsin safety Austin Brown.
Information
- School: Wisconsin
- Conference: Big Ten
- Position: Safety
- Height Weight: 6-1, 215 pounds
- Class: Senior
- Hometown: Johnston City, Illinois
Background
Brown developed into a reliable defensive presence during his time at Wisconsin, progressing from a special teams contributor early in his career to a full-time starter in the secondary. After appearing in all 13 games during his freshman season primarily on special teams, Brown steadily expanded his role within the Badgers’ defense over the next three seasons.
By 2024, Brown had earned eight starts and finished the season with 51 tackles, three pass breakups, one sack, and a forced fumble. One of his standout performances came against USC, where he recorded nine tackles and delivered a strip-sack while adding two tackles for loss. His ability to contribute in multiple ways helped establish him as a dependable defensive back in Wisconsin’s secondary.
Brown took on an even larger role in 2025, starting all 12 games and finishing the year with 52 tackles, one tackle for loss, and three passes defended. His most productive outing came against Alabama, where he recorded 11 tackles and a tackle for loss. Throughout the season, he showed versatility by aligning at safety, slot defender, and occasionally outside corner, depending on the defensive package.
Academically, Brown also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors multiple times during his career.
Notable Stats
- 672 total snaps
- 43 tackles
- 14 assisted tackles
- 3 passes defended
- 1 pressure
- 1 hurry
Brown’s 2024 season stands out as his most efficient evaluation year, highlighted by a 73.7 overall defensive grade and an 85.8 tackling grade according to PFF.
Pro Day Testing
Brown also helped himself significantly during Wisconsin’s pro day testing session. His 20 repetitions on the bench press would have ranked as the top mark among safeties at the 2026 NFL Combine, surpassing the leading total of 18 reps recorded by a safety in Indianapolis.
He followed that with a 43-inch vertical jump, which would have also placed him at the top of the safety group at the combine. Arizona safety Genesis Smith recorded a 42.5-inch vertical during combine testing.
Those testing numbers highlight Brown’s explosiveness and upper-body strength. While his production reflects a steady defensive contributor, the athletic testing shows physical tools that could help him get drafted and carve out a role at the next level.
Skills
- High-effort defensive back
- Versatile alignment experience across the secondary
- Strong tackling production for the position
- Physical build at 6-1, 215 pounds
- Reliable short-area pursuit
- Experience playing safety, slot, and outside coverage roles
- Disciplined run support
Brown’s versatility stands out when evaluating his role in Wisconsin’s defense. He logged snaps at multiple positions in the secondary, including free safety, slot defender, and outside coverage assignments, depending on the defensive package.
His physical build allows him to contribute effectively against the run. Brown consistently works downhill to finish tackles and limit yards after contact. His tackling efficiency improved significantly between 2023 and 2024, which showed up in his strong tackling grade during the 2024 season.
In coverage, Brown shows awareness of zone concepts and the ability to stay involved around the football. While he does not profile as a pure center-field range safety, his instincts and effort allow him to remain active within structured defensive schemes.
Player Summary
Austin Brown projects as a Day 3 draft selection who offers value as a versatile defensive back capable of contributing in multiple alignments. His combination of size, tackling reliability, and positional flexibility gives him a pathway to carve out a role as a rotational safety and special teams contributor early in his career.
In Tampa Bay, Brown would profile as a developmental depth option in Todd Bowles’ secondary. His experience playing multiple positions in the defensive backfield fits well with the variety of roles required in Bowles’ defense, giving him the potential to grow into a dependable rotational defender while contributing on special teams.
Wisconsin
[Photo Story] Penn State Men’s Hockey Disappoints Against Wisconsin
With the last regular-season series, No. 6 Penn State men’s hockey dropped both games to No. 11 Wisconsin over the weekend. The Nittany Lions were outplayed both nights, wrapping up their season to finish with a record of 20-12-2.
Of course, our photographers were at Pegula Ice Arena to capture all the action. Let’s take a look.

Wisconsin was dominant in both games against Penn State, winning 7-3 and 5-2, respectively. The Badgers outshot the Nittany Lions 41-31 on Thursday and 37-25 on Friday. Charlie Cerrato made a notable appearance. He played his first game back on Friday after being injured January 9 against Minnesota.
In Thursday’s game, the Nittany Lions fought for the first two periods, but the Badgers’ goal opened the third period and killed all of the momentum. In Friday’s game, the Nittany Lions fell behind from the very start and never built momentum to overcome the deficit.


Penn State now goes on to the Big Ten Tournament, where it will go up against Minnesota at home. Puck is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 11.
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