ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesotans turned out to vote in relatively average numbers this Tuesday. Meanwhile in Wisconsin, voter turnout was the highest in decades for a primary in a presidential election year.
"...In primary elections, as opposed to a general election, it really depends so so much on what is on the ballot in that particular place," said Steve Simon, Secretary of State in an interview with KARE 11.
Wisconsinites had more than national and state legislative races on their ballots. Voters were also asked two ballot questions that would have amended the state constitution. Those questions included limiting the governor's power to spend federal money that comes to the state for disaster relief or any other crisis, unless it's already earmarked, the Associated Press reported. Voters on Tuesday rejected both of the measures.
Turnout for the fall partisan primary in the Badger State was just over 26% Tuesday, the AP reports, the highest in a presidential year since 1964. Our NBC affiliate WEAU reports that voter turnout was enough that some polling locations in Eau Claire ran out of paper ballots.
In Minnesota, voter turnout was about 12%, according to preliminary estimates from the Secretary of State office. The last partisan primary in 2022 saw 19.16%, and in 2020 turnout was 22.25%. In 2016, turnout was just 7.42%.
Voter turnout in primaries are historically lower than general elections. The last presidential election in 2020 saw 79.96% of eligible Minnesota voters turning out. In 2016, that number was 74.72%.
