Wisconsin clerks have received more than 199,000 absentee ballots for the upcoming presidential election, a number that, while lower than the historic 2020 turnout, surpasses the absentee return rate from the 2016 election. As of Thursday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission reported that over 515,000 absentee ballots had been sent out, with about 36% returned so far.

Dane County leads the state with 28,359 absentee ballots submitted, followed closely by Milwaukee County, where 28,182 ballots have been returned. Waukesha County has recorded nearly 17,867 ballots turned in. 

This year’s absentee voting totals reflect an increase from 2016, when 163,917 absentee ballots were returned. However, the numbers fall short of the surge seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, when absentee voting skyrocketed. By October 10, 2020, nearly 676,000 absentee ballots had been received, with a return rate of over 51%.

Waukesha County Clerk Meg Wartman told Wisconsin Public Radio that before the pandemic, the absentee ballot return rate in her county hovered around 20%. During the pandemic, however, it spiked to about 70%, reflecting voters’ concerns about in-person voting during a health crisis. Since then, the return rate has stabilized, now falling between 25-35%. Wartman noted that preparations are running smoothly in her county, but she urges residents to complete their voter registration before the November 5 election to avoid long lines at polling places.

This year’s presidential election will see current Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic incumbent, running against the former President Donald Trump. 

In addition to the presidential race, voters will also be casting ballots for congressional seats and local races. The Wisconsin election is expected to draw significant national attention, as it could be a bellwether for how other battleground states will vote.