Turnout in Minnesota, Wisconsin primaries surges to two-decade highs

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



AUGUST 15, 2018 / 1:07 AM / UPDATED 7 HOURS AGO

David Gaffen

(Reuters) - Voter engagement in the 2018 midterm races remains feverish, primaries in notable swing states Wisconsin and Minnesota showed on Tuesday.

Both states showed dramatic increases in participation as voters picked candidates for Congress, Senate and governor, with Minnesota’s turnout surpassing a two-decade high and Wisconsin’s hitting levels not seen for a state primary since at least 2002.

Democrats are hoping to replicate successes seen around the nation throughout the past 18 months in local and state special elections, where high levels of enthusiasm have propelled them to victories in races from Alabama’s Senate seat in December to a southwest Pennsylvania Congressional district in March.

The party is desperately seeking to flip control of both Congress and statehouses across the nation, as Republicans have control of both houses of Congress and the majority of state legislatures.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-turnout/turnout-in-minnesota-wisconsin-primaries-surges-to-two-decade-highs-idUSKBN1L00EU?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28Reuters+Politics+News%29

[Wellstone ruled]

1. When a Primary

Candidate's vote totals are greater than the combined totals of a opposing Party,you have a sea change of mega proportions.

And yes,2002 was a interesting Historical event for off year elections.

[DownriverDem]

2. Who voted?

Were there more Dems voting? That is the key.

[pazzyanne]

3. In Minnesota the numbers favored Democrats.

[DownriverDem]

7. Yep

That is what we are seeing all over the country. Call it what you will, but I just want Dems to win. Purity folks need to sit down and be quiet. The diversity of the Democratic Party is who we are as a country.

[dalton99a]

4. GOTV and throw the traitors to the curb.

[Fred Sanders]

5. 1 in 5 voted is only a cause for celebration because it used to be 1 in 6.

Mandatory voting, now! That should be an actual party plank, I say.


"In Minnesota, around 875,000 voters turned out to vote in a state known for high levels of voter engagement, according to unofficial state figures at 12:30 a.m. EST (0430 GMT). That equals a turnout rate of roughly 22 percent, according to Minnesota’s secretary of state."

[DownriverDem]

8. What?

Mandatory voting? No way. Land of the free comes to mind. I wish move folks would vote, but no way do I want to see folks forced to vote.

[Fred Sanders]

10. Not forced...more persuasion...in some countries it is a tax fine of 100 bucks or so on your return.

It is not that hard and not at all the horror you depict.

[sarisataka]

9. Skipping the authoritarianism

Of mandatory voting for the moment, how would that be enforced?

Would election monitors go house to house or would people who did not sign in at their polling place receive a summons to explain their absence?

What would be the penalty for failure to vote?

[Gothmog]

6. From my twitter feed

Link to tweet