Wisconsin absentee ballot numbers decline compared to 2022

Data from mid-October 2026 indicates that mail-in ballot activity in Wisconsin is significantly lower than the levels recorded during the 2022 election cycle. Total absentee ballot applications reached 363,330, representing a 20.3% decrease from 2022, while returned ballots totaled 151,231, a 28.2% decline.

The decrease in participation is observed across various districts and municipalities. Notable declines in returned ballots were reported in Milwaukee County (-33.8%) and Dane County (-35.7%). In the cities of Milwaukee and Madison, application and return rates have also fallen compared to previous years, with Madison seeing a 31.5% drop in applications.