After Voting Debacle, New Poll Shows Wisconsinites Want Election Security

Overwhelming support for state investment to ensure health and economic security while also bolstering a fair election

In the wake of Wisconsin’s much-criticized spring elections, a recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart shows Wisconsin voters broadly support reforms to safely administer elections, increase the role of the state government, and address health & safety.

Voters Support Steps to Ensure Safe and Accessible Elections

Wisconsin voters strongly believe that the state government has a role to play in safely and fairly administering elections (86%). Voters are split between planning to vote by mail (45%) and vote in-person on Election Day (39%).

Whether or not they are choosing to vote in person or by mail, voters supported policies to ensure the election is safe and accessible for all eligible voters:

Lengthen the window for early voting and allow voters to cast ballots in person up through the day before Election Day (87%);
Open additional polling locations to reduce crowds and lines (86%);
Mail all registered voters applications to vote-by-mail (62%);
Count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day, but received after (76%); and
Immediately notify voters if there is a problem with their mail-in ballot (85%).

The Role of Government in Issues Facing Wisconsin

When asked if the state government should play a role in investing in the health, economic, and overall security of the people, voters overwhelmingly supported government engagement in:

Safely and fairly administering elections (86%);
Ensuring equal access to high-quality K-12 education (83%);
Ensuring struggling families and children have access to food (79%);
Stopping the spread of the coronavirus (79%);
Equal pay for equal work (78%); and
Ensuring access to affordable health care (77%).

Voters Concerned about Pandemic’s Impact on Health & Safety and Support Bold Economic Policies

Almost 6-in-10 Wisconsin voters want the state government to invest in its residents to ensure they are safe, healthy, and economically secure (57%) rather than the state keeping taxes low and cutting funds to key services like education, infrastructure, and unemployment insurance (21%).

Over 1-in-3 Wisconsin respondents reported they have been laid-off or had their hour cut (33%). Voters express grave concerns about small business closures (83%), losing work and income (81%), and being unable to afford rent or mortgage (69%). Wisconsinites also believe businesses should be required to provide safe working conditions or be penalized for negligence if workers get sick (52%).

Given the current crisis, Wisconsinites support policies that will address the economic hardships being faced by many:

Providing low-interest loans to small businesses to help them make it through the crisis (93%);
Limiting what drug companies can charge for prescription drugs (89%);
Offering people in Wisconsin the option to buy into the same public health insurance plans that are available to state employees if they want to (86%);
Extending the grace period for people to pay health insurance bills before their coverage can be canceled (83%);
Creating an insurance plan to provide paid family and medical leave for employees (74%); and
Requiring workplaces to provide paid sick days to their employees (74%).

Click here for more results.

SiX Welcomes Two New Staff Members: Press Secretary Margaret Ann Morgan and Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement Mandela Barnes

As the SiX staff continues to grow, we are thrilled to announce two new members of the team: Press Secretary Margaret Ann Morgan and Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement Mandela Barnes.

Barnes most recently served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. During his tenure there, he authored legislation to protect voting rights, provide small businesses with tax relief, safeguard children’s health, enhance public safety, encourage responsible gun ownership, and ban employment discrimination – along with a number of other policies. He served on the Committees on Corrections, Education, Jobs & the Economy, and Small Business Development and was also chairman of the legislature’s Black and Latino Caucus. Barnes is active in a number of organizations serving the Milwaukee area and has been recognized by NewDEAL as one of America’s top pro-growth progressive leaders.

Prior to joining SiX, Morgan served as press secretary for Correct The Record, a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks. There, she placed top surrogates on national networks during the 2016 campaign and assisted with rapid response communication. Morgan moved to Washington, D.C. after her time as a journalist in her home state of Mississippi, where she was the state’s top television reporter at WDAM in Hattiesburg, covering local and state politics and education policy.

Check out this POLITICO write-up on Morgan joining the SiX team.