Why AP called Wisconsin’s statewide ballot measures: Race call explained

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Associated Press was able to determine that voters in Wisconsin had approved two constitutional amendments limiting how state elections are run and paid for after the measures supported by Republicans in the state outperformed former President Donald Trump’s 2020 performance, even in largely Democratic-leaning parts of the state.

The AP determined that Question 2, which limits who can serve as election officials, passed at 9:41 p.m. ET, when votes to approve the measure led with 56% of the vote. Opposition to the measure was at about 44% of the vote when the race was called. The AP declared at 9:45 p.m. ET that a separate measure, Question 1, which bars the use of private donations and grants in running state elections, also passed. Support for that measure was at about 52% of the vote when the race was called, compared to about 48% for the opposition. The outcome of two measures was determined based on initial vote results from 22 of the state’s 72 counties for Question 2 and 29 counties for Question 1.

The results generally tracked the overall partisan split in other statewide elections, with voters in traditionally Republican-voting areas largely supporting the amendments while those in Democratic areas were largely opposed. Republicans in the state legislature backed both measures, while Democrats were opposed. Of the areas that had reported votes at the time the races were called, the “Yes” vote for both measures was leading in almost every county that former President Donald Trump carried in 2020, as well as several counties that President Joe Biden carried.

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