With absentee voting now in progress, the fall election is officially underway. Election Day for in person voting is Tuesday, Nov. 5, with new legislative maps affecting seat boundaries for state assembly. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Those voting will need to have ID and show proof of residency, if unregistered.
Among non-candidate items on the ballot this November is proposed state constitutional amendment, changing section 1 of article three from “every United States citizen 18 and older” to read “only a United States citizen 18 and older.”
Voters may vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the question, a simple majority needed to pass.
Heading the ticket for candidate races meanwhile with federal offices, including the Presidency, Senate, and U.S. House.
As for the Presidency, Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance (Republican) are facing off with Kamala D. Harris and Tim Walz (Democratic) for the Presidency, a host of third party candidates on the ballot as well.
U.S. Senate is split four ways, with Tammy Baldwin (Democratic), Eric Hovde (Republican), Phil Anderson (Disrupt the Constitution), and Thomas Leager (America First) all on the ballot.
U.S. House District 7 is being contested between Tom Tiffany (Republican) and Kyle Kilbourn (Democratic), while U.S. House District 3 is being contested by Rebecca Cooke (Democratic) and Derrick Van Orden (Republican).
Also among the choices on the ballot are several state assembly seat candidates, including those for Assembly Districts 68, 69, and 91.
District 68 as redrawn this spring is located in Chippewa, Taylor, Rusk, and Price counties, the district contested this fall by Richard Pulcher (Democratic) and Rob Summerfield (Republican).
District 69 as redrawn includes all of Clark County as well as parts of Chippewa, Taylor and Marathon Counties, the district contested by Karen Hurd (Republican), Roger Halls (Democratic), and Joshua Steven Kelley (Independent). District 91 is redrawn to include more area to the east of Eau Claire, including the township of Wilson, and is being contested as such by Jodi Emerson (Democratic) and Michele Magadance Skinner (Republican).
As for County level races, many candidates are running uncontested.
Seeking Chippewa County District Attorney is Wade C. Newell (Republican), with Jaclyn Jackie Sadler (Democratic) running for Chippewa County Clerk. Patricia Schimmel (Democratic) is seeking Chippewa County Treasurer, with Melanie McManus (Democratic) running for Chippewa County Register of Deeds.
For Clark County, the candidates are as follows. Melissa Inlow (Democratic) is running for Clark County District Attorney, while Christina M. Jensen (Republican) is running for Clark County Clerk. Renee J. Schoen (Republican) is running for Clark County Treasurer, while Mary A. Denk (Republican) is running for Clark County Register of Deeds.
For those residing in northeast Eau Claire County in and around Wilson, several offices are on the ballot this fall.
Running for Eau Claire County District Attorney is Peter J. Rindal (Democratic), while Sue McDonald (Democratic) is seeking Eau Claire County Clerk. Glenda Lyons (Democratic) is seeking Eau Claire County Treasurer and Tina Pommier (Democratic) is seeking Eau Claire County Register of Deeds. For Taylor County a similar set of offices is on the ballot.
Andria M. Farrand (Republican) is running for Taylor County Clerk, while Sarah Ruth Holtz (Republican) is seeking Taylor County Treasurer. Jayme S. Kohn (Republican) is seeking Taylor County Register of Deeds, while Kristi S. Tlusty (Democratic) is seeking Taylor County District Attorney.
See the insert included with this issue for a ballot sample.