About 768,000 ballots in Wisconsin were cast in the Republican and Democratic U.S. Senate primary August 14, according to the Government Accountability Board. That means only about 18 percent of the state’s eligible voters showed up, compared to 58 percent of voters that turned out for the historic June 5 recall election.
Voter fatigue is a likely reason for the low turnout last month. Since the first of the year, Wisconsinites faced an election in February for the spring local primary, April for the local general election and Presidential primary, May for the recall primary, and in June for the aforementioned recall. The average Badger State citizen has had to deal with constant campaign ads, stump speeches and debates by politicians.
In 2011, there were a number of elections as well, including a summer recall of state Senators. Wisconsinites get a break from heading to the polls until November 6 when the White House and a U.S. Senate seat are up for grabs.