Spring Primary carried out smoothly across Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Local election officials across Wisconsin reported no significant issues in the Spring Primary on Tuesday, setting the stage for the upcoming Spring Election on April 1.

“We are always pleased when things run smoothly across the state,” said Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe. “Even in a smaller election such as a Spring Primary, clerks need to be ready to handle whatever comes their way. We’re grateful for the skill and dedication of our clerks in Wisconsin.”

The nonpartisan Feb. 18 Spring Primary narrowed the number of candidates who will appear on the April 1 Spring Election ballot. Based on unofficial results, Jill Underly and Brittany Kinser advanced to the April 1 ballot in the State Superintendent of Public Instruction race in the only statewide contest on Tuesday’s ballot. There were many contested primary elections in local races around the state, the unofficial results of which will be available on each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties’ websites.

Election results are not final until they are certified. Municipal Boards of Canvassers offer the final verification and certification of municipal-level contests, such as primaries for mayor and city council, and also review county and state-level contests before forwarding to the county; School Districts Boards of Canvassers offer final verification and certification of school district contests; county boards of canvassers offer final verification and certification for county-level contests, such as the primaries for county board, and also review state-level contests before forwarding to the WEC; and the chair of the WEC offers the final verification and certification for state-level contests, such as the primaries for circuit court judge.

The deadlines associated with each canvass are available in the WEC’s 2025 Calendar of Election Events: https://elections.wi.gov/calendar/print

The Chair of the WEC must certify the Feb. 18 election results by March 4. The WEC will publish official state-level results once they have been through the canvass process certified by the WEC Chair. The WEC does not centrally compile unofficial results. However, unofficial election results are available on county websites, and a list with links to these county election sites is available here: https://elections.wi.gov/wisconsin-county-election-websites

The WEC does not plan to calculate preliminary, unofficial statewide turnout figures for Tuesday’s election. The most reliable and accessible source of turnout estimates would be local election officials, who can speak to turnout in their respective communities.

It is normal for unofficial election results to change slightly as election officials conduct canvasses to ensure an accurate vote total while completing the certification process.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.