Wisconsin
Wisconsin appeals court largely affirms lower court ruling to count absentee ballots with address variations
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals on Thursday mostly upheld a lower court’s decision that prevents the rejection of absentee ballots with address variations for upcoming elections. This decision is expected to reduce the number of ballot rejections in the state.
The legal dispute deals with interpreting an absentee ballot witness’s address, which involved a January 2024 ruling that impacted absentee ballots in the state. Under Wisconsin law, absentee ballots require completion in the presence of a witness, who would then sign it and provide their address. The state law notes that it is a requirement that an absent ballot certificate include the address of a witness to be counted. Further, if the certificate is completed improperly or does not include a certificate, verification should be sent by a municipal clerk to the witness for correction. Various groups such as Rise Inc., a youth engagement organization, criticized the requirements for the witness address to be a requisite to ballot validity.
The unanimous three-judge appeals panel’s ruling requires that witnesses’ certificates include a sufficient address to identify where the witness resides and could be reached. The ruling is distinct from the trial court’s standard, which established that an address is only deemed sufficient if it could allow a “member of the community” to reasonably locate the witness rather than relying on the municipal clerk.
Rise argued against the legislative definition. In their argument, they requested a broader language that accommodates unique address situations, such as the mobility of college students. They also argued that the discretion should remain in the hands of municipal clerks rather than a “reasonable person in the community.” Further, the strict criteria imposed by the Wisconsin legislature included the street name, street number, and municipality name even though “address” had not been defined under state law.
Absentee voting remains a contentious partisan issue for states during the election seasons. Last week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that absentee ballot drop boxes could be used ahead of the November general election. This ruling reversed a 2022 decision, which did not regard dropping off an absent ballot as a return to a municipal clerk. A federal judge in Mississippi is currently grappling with the decision of whether to count mail-in ballots for up to five days after the election. Although mail-in voting had been temporarily permitted during the pandemic, states are now reevaluating their legislation on the matter.
Wisconsin has dealt with similar electoral hurdles aside from absentee ballots. Just last December, in a 4-3 decision, the state’s highest court ruled that the current electoral map violated the state’s constitution. In the court’s order, it required that the district boundary lines be redrawn prior to the 2024 election season.
Thursday’s decision will impact the upcoming state primary in August and the general election in November.
(WLUK) — Just two days after he met with the FBI and Secret Service, Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad has entered the Wisconsin governor’s race.
Bangstad made the announcement this afternoon during an event that was posted on the company’s Facebook page.
He says he wanted someone to “stand up to Trump” and that his main concerns is “saving our democracy.”
Bangstad also shared his dissatisfaction with the current group of candidates for the crowded Democratic primary later this year
“I never wanted to do this,” Bangstad said. “At least I’m part of the conversation that I feel like everybody needs to be hearing right now.”
The brewing company owner was under fire this week after he posted “well, we almost got #freebeerday” shortly after the latest assassination attempt on President Donald Trump.
Bangstad has been a outspoken critic of the president. His company currently has a promotion promising free beer on the day Trump dies, which has drawn heavy criticism in the past.
In addition, his company sells merchandise that’s critical of the president, including t-shirts that read “I wish it was free beer day at Minocqua Brewing Company” and “Is he dead yet?”
Bangstad did not share if he would be aiming for a partisan endorsement, or the status of various required documents to enter the race.
He previously ran for a seat in the 34th District of the Wisconsin Assembly in 2020, but did not win the race. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin did donate to that campaign.
The Democratic primary is up in the air, with several state legislators and officials already in the race.
These include State Rep. Francesca Hong, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is the front-runner, following an endorsement from President Trump that led to Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann dropping out of the race.
MADISON, Wis. – Walleye and musky fishing season will proceed as normal on Wisconsin’s lakes, despite resolutions by a local Tribe to restrict fishing on certain lakes.
On Friday, May 1, the federal Western District of Wisconsin issued a temporary restraining order that stopped the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians from restricting fishing of walleye and musky on certain lakes.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), over the past month, the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians have passed resolutions and made public statements that attempted to prohibit non-tribal members from fishing walleye and musky on nineteen lakes within the external boundaries of the Band’s reservation and from using forward trolling and forward-facing sonar on all lakes within the external boundaries of the Band’s reservation.
The State of Wisconsin filed a federal complaint in the Western District of Wisconsin to prevent the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians from enforcing these resolutions against licensed anglers.
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Where to fish
What we know:
The federal court issued a restraining order against the tribe, which means that non-tribal anglers may fish as normal in the following lakes:
- Big Crawling Stone Lake
- Big Crooked Lake
- Bolton Lake
- Fat Lake
- Fence Lake
- Flambeau Lake
- Ike Walton Lake
- Little Crawling Stone Lake
- Little Sand Lake
- Long Lake
- Pokegama Lake
- Poupart Lake
- Signal Lake
- Stearns Lake
- Sugarbush Chain (Upper, Middle and Lower)
- White Sand Lake
- Whitefish Lake
The DNR says it remains committed to collaborating with the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians on important conservation work to protect the walleye and musky fisheries.
Anglers are also reminded to follow all fishing regulations and bag limits for lakes across Wisconsin, and everyone is encouraged to be respectful of all tribal harvesters, anglers, and recreators.
Head to the DNR’s website to check out the full fishing season schedule.
The Source: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) sent FOX6 a news release.
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 1, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from May 1 drawing
16-21-27-41-61, Mega Ball: 24
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 1 drawing
Midday: 8-3-1
Evening: 0-8-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 1 drawing
Midday: 4-5-0-8
Evening: 7-8-4-7
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 1 drawing
Midday: 01-02-03-05-07-10-11-14-15-16-17
Evening: 02-03-05-06-10-11-13-16-18-20-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 1 drawing
04-09-11-19-21
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from May 1 drawing
16-18-21-22-28-29, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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