The number of absentee ballots cast is already 46 percent higher than in the last guv election, according to the latest update from the Elections Commission.
So far, 547,954 ballots had been cast through Sunday, the last day available for in-person absentee voting, and that number is expected to climb higher.
In 2014, there were 374,294 absentee ballots counted out of the 2.4 million votes cast in the November election, and they accounted for about 15 percent of turnout. Two years ago, 830,763 of the almost 3 million votes counted were cast absentee, or 27 percent.
Compared to 2016 numbers, Dane, Waukesha and Milwaukee counties all had have already tallied more than 70 percent of absentee ballots cast compared to two years ago. Dane is already at 85,268, or 70.8 percent of the 2016 total. Meanwhile, Waukesha was at 63,866, 70.7 percent, and Milwaukee at 91,549, 70.2 percent.
Statewide, the number of absentee ballots cast is already about 66 percent of 2018. Turnout is typically up significantly in Wisconsin during presidential years.
Other notable counties compared to their number of absentee ballots cast in 2016 include:
Washington County, 16,705 (65.7 percent).
La Crosse County, 14,059 (64.2 percent).
Eau Claire County, 8,326 (60.7 percent).
Racine County, 20,254 (60.7 percent).
Winnebago County, 16,259 (58.2 percent).
Outagamie County, 18,935 (54.1 percent).
Two years ago, GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson won Waukesha, Washington, Racine, Winnebago and Outagamie counties.
Dem Russ Feingold won Dane, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and La Crosse counties.
The final number of absentee ballots for the 2018 election is expected to climb higher. The Elections Commission noted some may be behind entering totals. Meanwhile, those who have requested absentee ballots have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to return them to municipal clerks.
