A record number of Wisconsin voters went to the polls Tuesday for a regular gubernatorial election. According to the state Government Accountability Board, unofficial reports show nearly 2.4 millon voters cast ballots in this election. That’s 54.25 percent of eligible voters, and while that’s less than the 57.8 percent in the recall election of 2012, it was still a record turnout for a regular gubernatorial election.
The previous such record was set more than 50 years ago, 52.4 percent in 1962. By way of comparison, turnout in the last two presidential elections has averaged around 70 percent.
According to unofficial election returns compiled by the Associated Press, Wisconsin voters cast 2.395 million votes for governor, with 99 percent of wards reporting. Republican Governor. Scott Walker received 1,252,750 votes, Democrat Mary Burke received 1,115,943 votes, Libertarian Robert Burke 18,289 votes, and Independent Dennis Fehr received 8,981.
Last week, Government Accountability Board Executive Director Kevin Kennedy predicted 2.5 million votes would be cast, a 56.5 percent turnout.