Historical Images: Elections in Wisconsin

Elections, in something close to their current form, have been taking place in Wisconsin since 1825. The first known state vote took place in Green Bay in 1825, when only white male citizens over the age of 21 were allowed to vote. After Wisconsin was made a territory in 1836, one of the legislature’s first acts was to set out rules for elections throughout the territory.

Citizens (white, male, over the age of 21, having resided in the territory for more than 6 months) could petition the legislature for changes in election rules. For example, in 1843, citizens of several counties petitioned the legislature to add sheriffs, justices of the peace and other peace officers to ballots in future elections.

Petition for for regulating the election of county officers, 1843. Wisconsin Citizen Petitions 1836-1891, Wisconsin Historical Society

In 1846, just before Wisconsin’s statehood in 1848, a group of 28 residents of the town of Salem requested that the legislature repeal any laws limiting the rights of African-American men to vote. This petition was denied, and African-Americans were explicitly excluded from voting in the ratified 1848 state constitution. African-American men would not be granted the right to vote until a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling in 1866 – the first state to grant such rights.

Petition for repealing the law that prohibits African American men from voting, 1846. Wisconsin Citizen Petitions 1836-1891, Wisconsin Historical Society.

Elections around the state have addressed a variety of local issues. In 1908, the city of Crandon considered whether or not to grant licenses to local saloons. Years before the beginning of Prohibition, this town voted “no” to such licenses and memorialized the vote in photographs.

Election Day in Crandon, April 7, 1908. Crandon Community Building Collection, Crandon Public Library.

School children on election day, April 7, 1908. Crandon Community Building Collection, Crandon Public Library.

The work of rural Wisconsin life didn’t stop on election days, though. The corn still had to be husked at Hanson’s farm in Waterford, Wisconsin.

Husking Corn at T. Hanson’s, 1910. Janice Piper Collection, Waterford Public Library via UW-Digitized Collections.

Wisconsin residents gather to watch the election results and tabulation process – and maybe snack on some Election Day cake while they wait!

Election results, ca. 1948-1952. Kronographs collection, South Wood County Historical Corporation.

Election Cake, May 1969. Milwaukee Public Library Historic Recipe File, Milwaukee Public Library.

College and university students hold and participate in different types of elections activities: student governance, mock elections, and campus polling places for state and national elections.

Student elections at Racine Center, ca. 1950s. UW-Parkside Collection, University of Wisconsin—Parkside Area Research Center.

Mock election, 1956. Carroll Photograph Collection, Carroll University Archives.

Election day, students registering to vote, 1976. Historic Campus Photographs Digital Collection, Special Collections and Archives, McIntyre Library (University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire).

WSA election polling place, April 26, 1977. UW-Madison Collection, UW-Digitized Collections

Elections can be a family affair, with children observing this essential step in the democratic process.

Young boy in polling place, ca. 1975 – ca. 1990. University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives Collections, UW-Digitized Collections.

Wisconsin’s voter turnout has ranged from 10% in some primary elections to 73% in national presidential elections.

Voters at polling place, ca. 1970-1979. University of Wisconsin-Madison Archives Collections, UW-Digitized Collections.

Wisconsin’s next election is on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. What are you planning to wear to your local polling place? Does it have as many sequins as these two snazzy Wisconsin Emergency Management officials?