2022 spring primary election in Wisconsin is Feb. 15. What you should know about how to register to vote, Milwaukee's mayor race and more.
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A primary election will be held on Feb. 15 in the city of Milwaukee for the office of mayor, and in Milwaukee County for three contested board of supervisors seats, in Districts 1, 3 and 12.
Many suburban communities also are holding primary elections, including aldermanic races in Wauwatosa and Waukesha, and several school board races.
Here's more information about the spring primary.
When is election day for the spring primary?
Polls open at 7 a.m. Feb. 15 and close at 8 p.m.
When does early voting begin in Wisconsin?
Early voting begins Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 11. In the city of Milwaukee, however, voters who are registered at their current address can also vote at nine locations on Feb. 12.
How can I register to vote for the spring primary in Wisconsin?
If you missed the deadline (Jan. 26) to register to vote, you are allowed to register at your voting site on election day if you have lived at your current address for at least 28 days before the election. You must provide proof of residency through a Wisconsin driver's license or identification card, or the last four digits of your Social Security number, and a document that shows your current address such as a utility bill, property tax bill or bank statement.
Absentee ballot drop boxes will be allowed for the Wisconsin spring primary
Absentee ballot drop boxes can be used in the Feb. 15 primary after the state Supreme Court refused to block an appeals court ruling that allowed them. However, the justices will decide in the coming weeks or months whether the drop boxes can be used for future elections.
Applications for absentee ballots must be received no later than 5 p.m. Feb. 10, five days before the primary election.
In the city of Milwaukee, drop boxes will be open through 5 p.m. on election day. Drop boxes are located at public library branches; the City Hall Complex, 830 N. Market St.; and the Elections Commission Warehouse, 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Suburban voters should check with their local clerks for drop box locations and times.
Milwaukee mayoral race
Seven candidates will be on the February ballot in the election to fill the remaining two years of the mayoral term left open by Tom Barrett's resignation in December to become ambassador to Luxembourg.
Common Council President Cavalier Johnson became acting mayor with Barrett's resignation but must run in and win the election to continue to hold the office.
Candidates for Milwaukee mayor
Marina Dimitrijevic is a progressive in her first term on the Common Council representing the 14th Aldermanic District on the south side. She served on the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors from 2004 until winning a council seat in 2020.
Bob Donovan is a former alderman and longtime conservative council member who represented the city's 8th Aldermanic District on the south side. He was first elected to the council in 2000 and did not run for reelection in 2020. He ran unsuccessfully against Barrett for mayor in 2016.
Ieshuh Griffin is an activist who is running under the slogan "The Poor People's Piece of the Pie Campaign." She said she is the best candidate to represent Milwaukeeans because she has experienced the same struggles as many of the city's residents.
Cavalier Johnson is acting mayor and Common Council president. In August, he announced plans to run for the remainder of Barrett's term after the ambassadorship nomination was announced. He has ascended quickly at City Hall. He was first elected to the Common Council in 2016 and became president in April 2020.
Earnell Lucas is Milwaukee County sheriff. He was elected in 2018, defeating Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt. He earlier worked as a Major League Baseball security official and served more than two decades with the Milwaukee Police Department.
Michael Sampson is a newcomer to city politics. Sampson owns Swarmm Events, which organizes events such as the Shamrock Shuffle. He said he had political aspirations for a while and decided to jump into the race after advocating against the city's restrictions and fines on businesses at the height of the pandemic.
Lena Taylor is a state senator. An attorney, she was elected to the state Assembly in 2003 and the next year won a race for the state Senate. She challenged Scott Walker, then Milwaukee County executive, in 2008. Although she lost the race, she carried the city by 5,000 votes. Taylor unsuccessfully challenged Barrett in the 2020 mayoral race.
Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
There are contested primary races for three districts, 1, 3 and 12. An incumbent is designated by (i) after the name.
District 1
Liz Sumner (i)
Karen Gentile
Peter Tase
District 3
Sheldon Wasserman (i)
Jennifer Current
Eric Rorholm
District 12
Rosie King
Juan Miguel Martinez
Christian Saldivar Frias
Josh Zepnick
Common Council, school board contested primaries prevalent throughout the Milwaukee suburbs
Common Council seats
School board seats
Cedarburg (four seats)
Elmbrook (one seat)
Germantown (one seat)
Greendale (two seats)
Menomonee Falls (three seats)
Mequon-Thiensville (two seats)
Waukesha (three seats)
Whitnall (two seats)
D. Kwas can be reached at dkwas@jrn.com. Follow on Twitter at @DKwas1.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin primary election is Feb. 15, how to register to vote
