Check out the photos of the grassroots in action on the ground in Wisconsin, helping to win these recall elections.
Then scroll down for breaking updates!
Shilling and King won -- so that's two for Democrats. 3 others were called for the Republican incumbents. And they're still counting votes in SD8 -- Darling vs. Pasch. Numbers here, though most people don't expect big updates until tomorrow.
King wins over Hopper in District 18!
Our second win for the night -- click here to chip in and help fight for more progressives.
Photo from the rally in Madison!
Shilling wins her race against Kapanke in District 32!
We've proved we can win -- click here to chip in and help fight for more progressives.
The best results seem to be at the Associated Press. Still early, but they're coming in!
The polls have closed! If you're in line, stay in line -- you will be allowed to vote.
If you've already voted, follow along as the results come in at the Journal Sentinal, the Associated Press, and Daily Kos.
Last chance to vote! Remember, polls close at 8pm, you don't need your ID to vote, and if you're in line by 8pm, the polls must stay open to allow you to cast your ballot.
You can look up your polling place here.
If you're not registered to vote, you CAN register to vote at the polls. Here's information on how to do it.
If you have any trouble using your right to vote, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) or tweet @EPWisco.
An hour until polls close. Here's one of the stars of PCCC's original Wisconsin ad, talking about her ongoing activism to recall the Republicans:
Less than an hour and a half to go before polls close at 8pm -- just a reminder on how to make sure you get to cast your vote today.
You can look up your polling place here.
If you're not registered to vote, you CAN register to vote at the polls. Here's information on how to do it.
If you have any trouble using your right to vote, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) or tweet @EPWisco.
Polls close at 8pm local time -- if you're in line by 8pm, they have to let you vote, so stay in line!
Some polling places have reported long lines, so make sure to give yourself a bit of time to make your voice heard.
A Wisconsin recall volunteer talks about why she's supporting the recall elections, the turnout today, and what she's doing to win tonight.
The We Are Wisconsin coalition is reporting that over 260,000 doors have been knocked since Saturday, with over 80,000 knocked already today.
PCCC staffer Keauna Gregory just talked to an undecided voter who is going to support Democrat Sandy Pasch. Keauna says, "She had forgotten today was election day, but because I came by and talked about the cuts to education (she was with her granddaughter) she promised to take the whole family to vote after dinner!"
Governor Scott Walker has signed his anti-democratic redistricting bill on the eve of the recall elections.
Click here to get involved and help recall Scott Walker.
In the last few hours, volunteers calling Wisconsin voters from home through our Call Out The Vote program with Democracy for America have called over 20,000 voters.
One of our volunteers reports that she phonebanked one of the Democratic candidates, "I just took my 1st call and it was Jennifer Shilling! She said to thank all of us for doing this. After call, I was so excited I hung up my phone accidentally and now have to reconnect!"
The Wisconsin 14 hero gets ready to head out and talk to voters:
Just a reminder on how to make sure you get to cast your vote today.
You can look up your polling place here.
If you're not registered to vote, you CAN register to vote at the polls. Here's information on how to do it.
If you have any trouble using your right to vote, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) or tweet @EPWisco.
Polls close at 8pm local time -- if you're in line by 8pm, they have to let you vote, so stay in line!
Some polling places have reported long lines, so make sure to give yourself a bit of time to make your voice heard.
Amanda Johnson, PCCC staffer, just talked to a voter in Glendale who says that she was at a party last night. The voter was talking about the elections and a woman said to her, "I'm a Republican and I'm a teacher, and I don't support Scott Walker, and I'm not voting for Alberta Darling."
PCCC staffer Keauna Gregory reports from her canvass in Menomonee Falls, "Just had four sporadic Democratic voters say they've voted already - great trend!"
Sign up to help recall Scott Walker here.
Recall singalong in the state capitol in Madison earlier today:
Betty has had it up to here with Republicans. And Democrats have got to go vote.
Via David Cantanese at Politico:
Turnout is steady and heavy in the largest city in Senate District 14, the site of one of two recall races that are coming down to the wire.
I visited all three precincts in Baraboo, a city of 12,000 that sits about 45 miles north of Madison, and poll workers told me that turnout was nearing levels achieved during the 2010 general election.
Live from Shorewood Intermediate School in the Milwaukee area, a Democratic stronghold where people are voting in Darling vs. Pasch. This is Tom Collins, a volunteer with the Election Defense Alliance, working to protect the vote.
Gilbert Brown, famed Green Bay Packer, has recorded a robo-call going out to turn out the vote today, urging them to recall the Republicans. More here.
We Are Wisconsin reports over 220,000 doors knocked so far since Saturday, with 30,000 knocked today.
And our staff on the ground reports that Wisconsin 14 hero Chris Larson is out there knocking doors for Sandy Pasch.
Via Arshad Hassan of Democracy for America:
ArshadHasan I confirmed a Call Out The Vote volunteer who's calling FOR HER BIRTHDAY. She's 80-something. http://bit.ly/oMrqIT #weareWI #WI #WIrecall 8/9/11 12:21 PM |
Adam Green, PCCC co-founder, reports on a conversation he had with a voter at her door minutes ago:
Me: "I'm here today getting out the vote for Sandy Pasch, who's running against Alberta Darling."
Voter: "I already voted."
Me: "Oh great. What time?"
Voter: "I actually voted last Tuesday. I didn't want to stand in the long lines today!"
Me: "Nice. Did your husband vote yet?"
Voter: "He didn't yet. He will later. We usually cancel out each other's votes."
Me: :(
Voter: "But this time he's voting for Sandy Pasch."
Me: :) "That's great! Why?"
Voter: "He's a state worker."
She voted. Did you? Find your polling place here.
If you have any trouble using your right to vote, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) or tweet @EPWisco.
Via Ellen Anevicius and JR Ross at WisPolitics:
Various clerks in the recall districts reported steady turnout so far with some projecting numbers that will rival a presidential election.
BlueCheddar is broadcasting live from Wisconsin right now!
PCCC co-founder Adam Green reports:
"I just spoke with an election observer who has been at Nicolet High School since 6:45am, monitoring voting in the Darling vs. Pasch race. This is a Democratic area. He said turnout levels are where they were in the last gubernatorial election. That's a positive sign for a special election."
Quick primer on the state of play, courtesy of We Are Wisconsin available here. Also, Daily Kos has a rundown of the terrain.
Adam Green and Stephanie Taylor, the PCCC's co-founders, and Amanda Johnson, PCCC staff, are canvassing in Glendale. Stephanie says, "Incredible response from voters. Everyone we've talked to has either already voted, or is on their way to the polls. Huge energy and lots of Pasch signs!"
ChrisJLarson Today, Wisconsin will show the country that when we stand up & fight back against extreme policies, we win. #WIrecall 8/9/11 9:28 AM |
See more news updates and chat with supporters over at the Netroots Wisconsin live chat.
Twitter hashtags we're following: #wiunion, #wirecall, #wearewi
Getting early twitter reports of big turnout -- as much as 2010 -- in some areas:
jef4wi Update: 293 through Wards 1 & 2 in Oshkosh. Close to the Nov 2010 pace. 8/9/11 11:03 AM |
A We Are Wisconsin staff member reports that over 180,000 doors have been knocked by the coalition since Saturday (that's 41 knocks per minute, 24 hours a day) and just under 20,000 doors have been knocked already today. She promises more door knock updates soon, and says, "We are focused. We are fighters. We are Wisconsin."
Politico picks up on the ripple effects of today's elections in Wisconsin:
The recall contests have been thoroughly nationalized, accompanied by the total war ethos and scorched earth tactics that typically mark national races. The reason? Both sides view Tuesday as the first major battle of the 2012 election.
...
Yet the ripples from Tuesday’s election will reach well beyond Wisconsin’s borders. Successfully recalling even half of the six senators who voted with Walker would invigorate the liberal base both within the key battleground state and outside it just as the 2012 presidential campaign begins to heat up. It would also send a powerful message to Republicans about the risks of a head-on confrontation with labor. For the GOP, a successful defense of the seats would serve as a validation of their bold statehouse agenda in the aftermath of the 2010 elections.
...
Then there are the third party groups, which are far outspending the candidates. They’ve poured in more than $30 million , according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, which tracks political spending. That’s just shy of the $37 million total spent on last year’s governor’s race.
From the left, it’s the Progressive Change Campaign Committee; Howard Dean’s Democracy for America; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Service Employees International Union. On the right, it’s Tea Party Express, Americans for Prosperity and the Club for Growth.
"Volunteers are flowing through the Milwaukee We Are Wisconsin office, getting out the vote for Sandy Pasch -- whose running neck and neck with Republican Alberta Darling. Babies are in tow, helping to get out the crucial 'awww' vote!"
--Stephanie Taylor, PCCC co-founder
The Wisconsin blogger Twitter list is an essential follow to watch for more news on today's recall elections.
Other good resources include The American Prospect and Patch.
You can look up your polling place here.
If you're not registered to vote, you CAN register to vote at the polls. Here's information on how to do it.
If you have any trouble using your right to vote, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) or tweet @EPWisco.
Polls close at 8pm local time!
Alberta Darling, Scott Walker Republican up for recall today, was heard on right-wing radio saying she was "very nervous" and concerned about the canard of "voter integrity" and "double balloting" in Milwaukee, basically accusing her opponent, Sandy Pasch, of voter fraud. She also said her campaign was people-powered, despite her close connection with the billionaire Koch brothers.
Polls are open in Wisconsin! Stay tuned for more!