Many Americans are wishing for Nov. 6 to hurry up and get here. Why? Because that will mean the constant barrage of political ads and mailers will be done.

However, the Journal wants to help voters learn more about the local candidates who will appear on their ballots. It’s also important to note that new electoral maps were signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers in February 2024. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, under the previous maps, Republicans held about two-thirds of both the state Assembly and Senate. The new boundaries are meant to provide more balance between the two parties.

“Republicans currently hold 64 out of 99 state Assembly seats under the Republican-drawn maps,” the Journal-Sentinel wrote in February. “Under the new state Assembly map, the districts are more evenly split. The new map has 46 districts that lean Republican and 45 districts that lean Democratic.

“The eight districts left are likely to be a toss-up between Democratic and Republican candidates.”

Under the new state Senate map, 14 out of 33 districts are Democratic-leaning, while 15 are Republican-leaning. Currently, 22 out of the 33 state Senate seats are held by Republicans, considered a supermajority.

Four districts are competitive, where either party has a fair chance of winning them, the Journal-Sentinel said.

Before heading to the polls, check out myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ to preview sample ballots, or speak to your municipal clerk to learn how the boundary lines have changed since the last election. You can also find your polling place, update your name or address, register to vote, or track your ballot.

The candidate questionnaires in the "Election section" of our website were sent to all local candidates. Incumbents will be marked with an asterisk (*). If the candidate did not respond, that is noted.

Here are some basic facts every U.S. citizen should know (from the League of Women Voters).

The U.S. Congress has two bodies: 

• U.S. Senate: Made up of 100 senators that serve six-year terms. Two senators represent the state of Wisconsin.
• U.S. House of Representatives: Made up of 435 representatives that serve two-year terms. Wisconsin has eight representatives (also called congresspersons).

Each member of congress is sent to the capitol to represent the voters in their district. U.S. House of Representative districts have changed since the last election due to redistricting. 

What does congress do?

Congress is the law-making body. Congress also allocates federal spending through the budget and appropriation bills. Proposed laws (bills) can start in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. Both houses must pass a bill before sending it to the president for signature or veto. Congress can vote to override a veto.

Why does this matter?

The laws passed by the U.S. Congress and decisions that are made about how our tax dollars are spent impact each and every Wisconsinite. Congress makes an impact on taxes, education, healthcare, natural resources, voting rights and more. The future of our country is determined by the members of the U.S. Congress.

The Wisconsin U.S. Senate race is considered one of the most competitive senatorial races in the country. The outcome of this race may determine which party has control of the U.S. Senate. Also Wisconsin Congressional Districts 1 and 3 are considered to be especially competitive. Wisconsin voters have a lot of power to determine which party has control of congress.

The state legislature has two houses: 

• Wisconsin Senate: Made up of 33 senators that serve four-year terms. Odd-numbered districts will be on the ballot this year.
• Wisconsin Assembly: Made up of 99 representatives that serve two-year terms. All 99 districts will be on the ballot this year.

Each member of the legislature is sent to the capitol to represent the voters in their district. State legislative districts have changed since the last election due to redistricting. 

What does the state legislature do?

Wisconsin’s legislature makes our state’s laws. Proposed laws (bills) can originate from either the state senate or assembly. Both houses must approve the bill before it is passed on to the governor for signature or veto. The legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each house. The legislature also determines how our tax dollars are spent.

Why does this matter?

The laws passed by the state legislature and decisions that are made about how our tax dollars are spent impact each and every Wisconsinite. The state legislature makes an impact on taxes, education, healthcare, natural resources, voting rights and more. The future of our state is determined by the members of the state legislature.

Referendum questions

All Wisconsin voters will be asked a fifth and final statewide referendum question this year on the State of Wisconsin Eligibility to Vote:
“Shall section 1 of article III of the constitution, which deals with suffrage, be amended to provide that only a United States citizen age 18 or older who resides in an election district may vote in an election for national, state, or local office or at a statewide or local referendum?”

Led by Republican lawmakers, the question addresses whether to prevent Wisconsin from allowing noncitizens to vote in the future. Some cities (in other states) have allowed noncitizens to vote in local elections, but not in Wisconsin.

Democrats and voting rights groups have said changing the wording to “only” from “every” citizen may weaken how the state constitution addresses voting rights. Another concern is it “will spur harmful rhetoric toward immigrants and lead voters to believe noncitizens are fraudulently voting in the state, which is extremely rare,” the Journal Sentinel said. “That section of the state constitution currently reads that ‘every United States citizen age 18 or older who is a resident of an election district in this state is a qualified elector of that district.’”

A federal law prevents noncitizens from voting in federal elections. But some states like Maryland, California and Washington, D.C., allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. However, no cities, towns or villages in Wisconsin allow noncitizens to vote in local elections.

Referendum questions are placed on the ballot by the state Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans.

Prescott School District Referendum

Those who live in the Prescott School District will see an operating referendum question on their ballots:

"Shall the School District of Prescott, Pierce County, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,200,000 beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, for recurring purposes of ongoing operational expenses, including compensation for staff, and funding for academic and extracurricular programs for students?"

An operational referendum failed to pass this past April by 12 votes, resulting in numerous cuts to extracurricular activities, in-town bus routes, staff positions and theater and music programming.

If passed, the levy would increase the school portion of taxpayers’ bills annually by about $6.60 per $100,000 of property valuation.

Plum City School District Referendum

Plum City School District voters will also need to decide whether or not to support an operating referendum.

"Shall the School District of Plum City, Pierce and Pepin Counties, Wisconsin be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $1,750,000 for the 2025-2026 school year, by $1,900,000 for the 2026-2027 school year, by $2,050,000 for the 2027-2028 school year, and by $2,200,000 for the 2028-2029 school year, for non-recurring purposes consisting of facility maintenance and operational expenses?"

The estimated annual tax per $100,000 of property value would go $1,061 in tax year 2023, $886.39 in 2024 and $1,106.33 in 2025 to $1,357.06 in tax year 2026 (the first cycle the referendum would kick in), $1,251.55 in 2027, $1,329.88 in 2028 and $1,414.23 in 2029 (the final tax cycle the referendum would hit).

“Insurance has gone up, fuel has gone up, electricity has gone up, everything has gone up, just like you guys,” School Board President Erin Clare said on why the district needed to go to referendum.

The referendum would take effect the year the 2022 referendum goes out of effect, allowing Plum City to keep up with operating expenses.

Passing the referendum would also allow the district to purchase a propane bus, which they could receive some grant funding for, and replace the roof of the bus garage.