Which party controls the state government?
Divided government
Wisconsin
Wisconsin's liberal court struck the 1849 abortion ban. Vouchers top $700M. The open governor race decides if these survive.
Updated October 3, 2026. Every figure is sourced and dated.
- 5
- Wisconsin guides
- 56
- rules tracked
What November 3 Decided
Results as certified by the Secretary of State. Nothing here is a projection; each office reads "Not yet certified" until the state certifies it.
- Governor Not yet certified Tom Tiffany (R), David Crowley (D)
Who Runs Wisconsin
The Legislature meets next on January 4, 2027.
- Governor Tony Evers Not running in 2026; the seat is open
- Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez Not running in 2026
- Attorney General Josh Kaul On the ballot for re-election
- Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski On the ballot for lieutenant governor
- Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate Devin LeMahieu Not running for his Senate seat in 2026
- Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly Robin Vos Retiring; not on the November 3, 2026 ballot
Who Votes in Wisconsin
An estimated 72.2% of Wisconsin's adult citizens voted in November 2024, plus or minus 3.4 points, against 65.3% nationwide.
- 6.0 million Residents, July 1, 2024
- 4.6 million Adults 18 and over (estimated)
- 4.4 million Adult citizens (estimated)
- 3.4 million Registered to vote (estimated)
- 3.2 million Voted (estimated)
- 3,422,918 Ballots counted for president
Wisconsin
United States
- Voted
- Registered, did not vote
- Not registered
Shares of adult citizens. Registered but did not vote: Wisconsin 4.1%, United States 8.3%. Registered and voted are estimates from the Census Current Population Survey, November 2024 (Table 4a); the margin of error for Wisconsin's turnout is plus or minus 3.4 points and for its registration 3.2 points. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates. Presidential count: Federal Election Commission, from each state's certified canvass.
Donald Trump carried Wisconsin by 0.9 points in the certified count, 1,697,626 votes to 1,668,229.
Your Wisconsin Rules
The answers people look up first, chosen by search demand from our 50-state datasets. Each is dated and links to the source and to every state's answer.
- How far into pregnancy is abortion legal? 22 weeks Legal until 18 to 22 weeks
- Do you need an ID to vote in person in Wisconsin? Photo ID, strict Without ID: Vote provisionally and show ID by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election. Voters added the photo ID requirement to the state constitution in 2025.
- Is marijuana legal in Wisconsin? Illegal, low-THC oil only Illegal, no full medical program
- How high is the property tax on a home in Wisconsin? 1.32% of home value, 10th highest of 50 Among the 10 highest rates
- Can a person with a felony conviction vote in Wisconsin? Lost until parole and probation end
- What is Wisconsin's minimum wage? $7.25 an hour (the federal minimum) $7.25, the federal floor
How Wisconsin Ranks
Wisconsin homeowners paid an effective property tax rate of 1.32% of their home's value in 2024, the 10th highest of the 50 states, according to the Tax Foundation.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Texas | 1.4% |
| Ohio | 1.36% |
| Iowa | 1.33% |
| Wisconsin | 1.32% |
| New York | 1.3% |
| Pennsylvania | 1.26% |
| Kansas | 1.21% |
Wisconsin and the states ranked nearest it. Source: Tax Foundation, Property Taxes by State and County, 2026. Read September 28, 2026.
Every Wisconsin Guide
5 guides to Wisconsin law and politics, each sourced and dated.
Elections and Who Holds Power
Your Money, Work and Home
Health and Safety
Guns, Drugs and Criminal Justice
Wisconsin Rules at a Glance
56 answers from our 50-state datasets. Each card shows when it was last verified and links to the source and to the Wisconsin guide or every state's answer.
Rule of Law (2)
Is marijuana legal in the state?
Illegal, low-THC oil only
Illegal, no full medical program
Voting (19)
When is the last day to register for November 3, 2026?
Register through Election Day; in person by Friday, October 30 to skip same-day rules
Can register on Election Day
Who can vote by mail?
Any voter can ask for a ballot
Are guns banned at polling places?
No clear statewide ban
Do you have to prove citizenship to register?
No document required; you attest
Is ranked choice voting used or banned?
No state law, not in use
Who draws the congressional map?
State legislature
Did the state draw a new congressional map for 2026?
No new map for 2026
Was the state covered by Voting Rights Act preclearance before 2013?
Not covered
Did the 2024 presidential campaigns treat the state as a battleground?
Battleground
Has the state joined the National Popular Vote Compact?
Not joined
How many electoral votes does the state have?
10 electoral votes
10 to 19 electoral votes
Did the state gain or lose House seats after the 2020 census?
No change
Can voters recall state officials?
Yes, by a recall election
Where is the state's guide to running for office?
Ballotpedia, How to run for office in Wisconsin
Guide available
When did the state ratify the 19th Amendment?
Ratified June 10, 1919
Before Tennessee, 1919-1920
Who can vote in a party primary?
Open
Open: any voter, private choice
Can a person with a felony conviction vote in the state?
Lost until parole and probation end
Do you need an ID to vote in person in the state?
Photo ID, strict
How many people in the state are eligible, registered and voted?
An estimated 72.2% of adult citizens voted in 2024 (plus or minus 3.4 points)
An estimated 70% or more of adult citizens voted
Immigration (1)
Is the state on the Justice Department’s sanctuary list?
Nothing in the state is listed
LGBTQ Rights (4)
Is gender-affirming care for minors banned or protected?
No ban, no shield law
Is conversion therapy banned for minors?
Full ban for minors
Must schools tell parents about a student’s gender identity?
No forced-outing law
Does the state constitution still ban same-sex marriage?
Ban still in the constitution, unenforceable
Education (1)
Has the state restricted DEI at public colleges?
No statewide restriction
Healthcare (1)
Has the state expanded Medicaid?
Not expanded
Economy (8)
What is the state's minimum wage?
$7.25 an hour (the federal minimum)
$7.25, the federal floor
Can cities set a higher minimum wage?
Blocked by state law
Can cities require paid sick leave?
Blocked by state law
Is the state a right-to-work state?
Has a right-to-work law
What would the projected Social Security cut cost a retiree in the state?
About $470 a month
Projected cut at depletion
How much of the state's budget comes from federal money?
26.9% federal money
Under 30% federal
Does the state tax income, and at what rate?
3.5% to 7.65%; the top rate starts at $332,720 (single filer)
Graduated rates
How high is the property tax on a home in the state?
1.32% of home value, 10th highest of 50
Among the 10 highest rates
Ethics (1)
How much does the state require lobbyists to disclose?
Limited disclosure
Reproductive Rights (1)
How far into pregnancy is abortion legal?
22 weeks
Legal until 18 to 22 weeks
Civil Rights (7)
Does the state have the death penalty?
Abolished in 1853
Abolished
How does the state's civil forfeiture law grade?
Grade A-
A range
Has the state passed anti-protest laws since 2017?
1 law enacted since 2017
At least one law enacted
Does the state constitution name a right to privacy?
No explicit clause
Does the state have a consumer data privacy law?
No comprehensive law
How much support does Christian nationalism have in the state?
32% support
30% to 37%
Did the state ratify the Equal Rights Amendment?
Ratified by the deadline
Housing (5)
Can a landlord refuse a housing voucher?
Weakened by a court ruling
Does the state ban sleeping outside in public places?
No statewide law identified
How much notice must a landlord give for unpaid rent?
5 days
5 to 7 days
Does the state give homeowners a homestead exemption?
Yes, a statewide program
Yes, a statewide program for most homeowners
Is there a cap on how fast assessed home values can rise?
No cap in the Lincoln Institute table
Gun Safety (6)
Does the state have a red flag law?
No statewide red flag law
Can cities pass their own gun laws?
Broad state preemption
Can you openly carry a handgun in the state?
Yes, no permit needed
Do you need a permit to carry a concealed handgun?
Permit required
Does the state require background checks on private gun sales?
No, only the federal dealer check
Is there a waiting period to buy a gun?
No waiting period
Wisconsin voters built a 5-2 liberal Supreme Court supermajority by winning four straight court races since 2020. That court has already struck down the state’s abortion ban and upheld a 400-year school funding veto.
Governor Tony Evers is not running again, so the governor’s seat is open on November 3. Republicans control both legislative chambers. The veto pen is the last line of defense.
Supreme Court
Chris Taylor won her April 2026 Supreme Court seat by 20 points over conservative Maria Lazar, 905,157 votes to 600,044. The AP called the race less than 40 minutes after polls closed. It was the largest margin in a contested Wisconsin Supreme Court race since 2000.
The 5-2 liberal majority has already reshaped Wisconsin law. The court ruled the 1849 near-total abortion ban unenforceable in July 2025. It upheld Evers’ 400-year school funding veto as a legal use of executive authority. Justice Jill Karofsky wrote for the majority that people must be “personally aggrieved” to bring election lawsuits, raising the bar for frivolous challenges.
Current split 5-2 liberal majority, the fourth consecutive liberal win since 2020
Taylor margin 60%-40%, called within 40 minutes of polls closing
Still pending Act 10 collective bargaining challenge, working through Court of Appeals
One major case remains. The challenge to Act 10’s collective bargaining restrictions is working through the Court of Appeals after the Supreme Court declined immediate jurisdiction. A decision is not expected until late 2026 or later.
Public Schools
Wisconsin invented the school voucher program. Now taxpayers spend more than $700 million per year on it, funding roughly 60,000 students in private schools. Nearly half of Wisconsin’s private school students receive a taxpayer-funded voucher.
”I have spent decades watching the impacts that draining public funds from public schools to fund private voucher programs has had on kids and public education in Wisconsin.”
Governor Tony Evers, vetoing a federal school choice tax credit bill, March 2026The enrollment cap on the statewide voucher program expires after 2025-26. Starting in 2026-27, there is no limit on how many students can receive vouchers unless the legislature acts. Democratic lawmakers including State Rep. Christian Phelps and Sen. Kelda Roys introduced legislation to extend the caps. Republicans have not moved it.
Meanwhile, state data shows general aid decreased for public school districts even as voucher enrollment climbed. Evers vetoed a Republican bill in March 2026 that would have opted Wisconsin into a federal tax credit program rewarding taxpayers for contributions to private voucher schools.
$10,877 to $13,371 per-student voucher amount (K-8 and 9-12), paid by Wisconsin taxpayers
Reproductive Rights
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in July 2025 that the state’s 1849 law does not ban abortion. The majority found the legislature had “functionally repealed” the 176-year-old near-total ban through 50 years of subsequent legislation regulating abortion.
That ruling made Wisconsin the only state to have a pre-Roe ban struck down by its own Supreme Court. Clinics that had stopped providing abortions after the Dobbs decision resumed services.
If the next governor defends the ruling
- Clinics continue operating under the court's interpretation of current law.
- The attorney general defends access if the legislature passes new restrictions.
- Wisconsin remains an access point for patients from neighboring states with bans.
If a hostile governor takes office
- A new attorney general could refuse to defend the ruling or pursue new enforcement.
- The legislature could pass new restrictions without a veto threat.
- Patients would face the same travel burden Wisconsin avoided.
The 2026 governor’s race is the hinge. The liberal court majority is secure, but a governor who signs new restrictions or appoints an aggressive attorney general could reopen the fight from a different angle.
Federal Cuts
UW-Madison lost 375 federal grants and roughly $27 million in research funding in 2025. About 145 grants were ended or paused. Some were cut specifically for researching gender identity or coronavirus strains.
”The needless chaos caused by the federal government in recent weeks has already made preparing a state budget that much more difficult.”
Governor Tony EversThe Trump administration froze $715 million in adult education funds nationwide, with Wisconsin’s share at $7 million. The proposed FY2026 budget would eliminate Community Development Block Grants entirely, cutting funding that Wisconsin communities use for park repairs, library upgrades, road improvements, and housing assistance.
Wisconsin still has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA. The federal reconciliation bill adds work requirements that further complicate coverage for the gap population. The 2025-27 state budget was signed in a single day partly because lawmakers needed to secure $1.5 billion in federal Medicaid funding for rural hospitals before a federal deadline.
2026 Elections in Wisconsin
Governor Evers is not running for a third term (Wisconsin has no term limit for governor). On November 3, the nominees for governor are Tom Tiffany (R); David Crowley (D). Tiffany is a U.S. representative, and Crowley is the Milwaukee County executive.
Governor Open seat: Tom Tiffany (R); David Crowley (D)
Legislature Republicans control both chambers. New maps make more seats competitive.
U.S. Senate Neither seat is on the ballot in 2026.
Democrats are seeking a trifecta for the first time in over a decade. The redrawn legislative maps give them a path that did not exist before. But the governor’s race is the floor. Without the veto pen, the court’s rulings on abortion, school funding, and election law face legislative override attempts.
Evers sent a formal letter urging Congress to “reject Trump’s reckless cuts hurting Wisconsin’s kids, families, and schools.” A $1.8 billion surplus deal between Evers, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu collapsed in May 2026 when the state Senate rejected the compromise. The next governor inherits those fights.
Wisconsin’s congressional map remains gerrymandered despite the liberal court majority. Two lawsuits challenging the map were dismissed in 2026. Republicans hold 6 of 8 congressional seats in a state that is essentially 50-50 in statewide elections. Districts 1 (Bryan Steil) and 3 (Derrick Van Orden) are on the DCCC target list.
What You Can Do in Wisconsin
-
Check your voter registration. Wisconsin allows same-day registration, but confirming early avoids lines and problems. Start at myvote.wi.gov.
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Know the governor’s race. The nominees are Tom Tiffany (R); David Crowley (D). Look up each candidate’s position on vouchers, abortion, and federal funding before you vote on November 3.
-
Call your state legislators about voucher caps. The enrollment cap expires after this school year. Ask your representative whether they support extending it. Find yours at legis.wisconsin.gov.
-
Verify your Medicaid status. If you receive benefits, keep your contact information current. Wisconsin has not expanded Medicaid, and federal work requirements are coming. Call ForwardHealth at 1-800-362-3002.
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Show up for school board and county clerk races. State fights land on local desks. The people who run your schools and elections are on the ballot too.
Contact Your Officials
Call your two U.S. senators, the governor's office, or look up your own state legislators.
Governor Tony Evers (D) 608-266-1212
Your State Legislators
Every address in Wisconsin sits in one district for each chamber of the Legislature, and each district elects its own member. Enter your address in the Legislature's own lookup to see who represents you.
Find your Wisconsin legislators
Chamber leaders
- Devin LeMahieu, Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Senate
- Robin Vos, Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly
Events
Show Up Locally
MORNING South Shore Bridge Brigade
Visibility Event · Indivisible South Shore WI
South 3rd Street & West Howard Avenue, Milwaukee, WI, 53207
Meet on the overpass of 3rd and Howard. We provide physical messaging in the real world to connect with and activate voters. Bring your own signs too. Prepare to wave and generally have a good time.
Waunakee Weekly Rally for Democracy and Free Speech
WisDems
410 E Main St, Waunakee, WI, 53597
Join the Waunakee Democracy and Free Speech rally, where WE THE PEOPLE gather in a peaceful and family-friendly manner to stand for our shared American values in the rules and laws of our democracy.
IDCW Friday Pickets: Hold the GOP Accountable
Visibility Event · Indivisible Dane County WI
148 E Johnson St, Madison, WI, 53703
Join us for an hour in front of the WI GOP HQ to call them out for supporting Trump's authoritarian agenda of cruelty, corruption, warmongering and imperialism. Bring signs, noisemakers, and often we.
Sun Prairie Peaceful Saturday Protests on Grand Avenue
Community Event · Indivisible
2598 W Main St, Sun Prairie, WI, 53590
Join us every Saturday in November in front of Fire Station 2. Even though the midterms have ended, the work of rebuilding our democracy is still before us! Stand with like-minded people, create a.
Weekly: Stand for Democracy
Visibility Event · Indivisible
76th St and W North Ave., Wauwatosa, WI, 53213
Gather with us at noon every Saturday to make our voices heard. Together, we stand for justice, equality, and change, reminding those in power that we will not be silent. Bring your energy, your.
Middleton Rally for Democracy
WisDems
Park Street & University Avenue, Middleton, WI, 53562
Join us for our local, family friendly rally every Saturday from 12-1pm. We gather at the intersection of Park Street and University Avenue in Middleton. It has never been more important to stand up.
Weekly: Stand for Democracy
Visibility Event · Indivisible
North Port Washington Road & West Silver Spring Drive, Glendale, WI, 53217
Gather with us at noon every Saturday to make our voices heard. This is the North Shore extension of the weekly gathering at 76th & North Ave. in Wauwatosa. Together, we stand for justice, equality.
SE WI Indivisible Weekly Sundays
Visibility Event · SE Wisconsin Indivisible
1501 Miller Park Way, West Milwaukee, WI, 53214
Community coming out because they are exhausted by the chaos rather than sitting at home angry that our democracy, inalienable rights and justice for all are being eroded. Action is the antidote to.
Voter Tools
Voter Registration and Resources
Find Federal Representatives Use Congress.gov to confirm your House member and senators. Check Voting Rules Verify state registration rules and deadlines before the next election.
Don't see a letter on your issue? Text RESIST to 50409 to write your own to any official.