By Karen Stokes
Pictures courtesy of Milwaukee Election Commission
For Sherman Park resident Justine Oates, voting is a family affair.
“I learned as a teenager growing up in Alabama that voting was a civil right. African-Americans have fought and died since the civil war so that my voice can be heard,” Oates said.
“Voting is a family affair, we all share the right to vote in every election.”
Oates has lived in Milwaukee for 30 years. Oates and many Milwaukee residents are headed to the polls on August 12, for the partisan primary election.
Results will determine who will be running in the November general election.
This election will be the first step for voters to decide a variety of races which in turn will decide many issues affecting their lives.
“We expect a 25 percent turnout for the August 12 primary election and a 75 percent turnout in the November general election,” said Neil Albrecht, executive director Milwaukee Election Commission.
“These numbers are comparable to the presidential election turnout numbers,”
“Voters are interested in issues on crime and safety, jobs and education,” Albrecht explained.
One issue that the candidates for governor, Scott Walker, Republican and Mary Burke, Democrat have a strong, contrasting opinion is the Voter ID requirement.
“Voter ID is a common sense reform that protects the integrity of our elections.” said Governor Walker in a statement last week.
“People need to have confidence in our electoral process.”
“The voter ID law puts up unnecessary restrictions that we don’t need in Wisconsin,” Candidate Mary Burke said in a statement last week at Wisconsin State Fair. “I think it is important that people have the right to vote and we don’t need to put any hurdles in the way.”
“Even though the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a requirement last week for voters to show photo ID at the polls, no decision has been made in federal court,” according to Albrecht.
“Any registered voter will not need an ID to vote in the primary election.”
“Due to the decision being in federal court, voter ID is improbable for the general election in November,” said Albrecht.
In the latest Marquette Law School poll, Scott Walker and Mary Burke are tied in the governor’s race.
Among likely voters who are certain to vote in the November election, Burke receives 47 percent and Walker 46 percent.
The following are campaigns in the August 12 primary election.
Three candidates are running for governor: Incumbent Republican, Scott Walker, running unopposed, Democrats Mary Burke and Brett Hulsey.
Four candidates running for Lieutenant Governor, Incumbent Republican Rebecca Kleefisch, who is running unopposed, and Democrats John Lehman, Mary Jo Walters and Libertarian Joseph M. Brost.
In the race for Attorney General, Republican Brad Schimel, and Democrats Susan V. Happ, Jon Richards and Ismael Ozanne. The winner will face Independent Angela Walker in November.
Milwaukee County sheriff race is between Democratic incumbent David Clarke and Milwaukee Police Department Lieutenant Democrat Chris Moews.
County Treasurer race includes Democrats David Cullen and Dawn Marie Sass. No Republicans are running.
Assembly races in District 8 Democratic incumbent JoCasta Zamarripa and Democrat Laura Manriquez.
The winner will face Republican Vincent Synowicz in November.
Assembly District 10 has four Democrats running, David Bowen, Bria Grant, Sara Lee Johann and Tia Torhorst.
There is no Republican in this race.
Assembly District 16 Democratic incumbent Leon Young will face Democrat Tracey Dent. No Republicans are in this race.
Assembly District 19 has four Democrats running, Dan Adams, Jonathan Brostoff, Marina Dimitrijevic and Sara Geenen. No Republican is on this ballot.
The winner will face Wisconsin Pirate Party candidate, Joseph T. Klein.
Assembly District 20 has Democratic incumbent Christine Sinicki will run unopposed and will face the winner from the Republican primary Molly McGartland, Justin Moralez and Mike Pierce in November.
Congress 1st District has Republicans Paul Ryan and Jeremy Ryan and Democrats Amar Kaleka and Rob Zerban.
Congress 4th District has Democratic incumbent Gwen Moore running against Gary George. Republicans David King and Dan Sebring will face off.
In District 6, four Republicans are running, Tom Denow, Glenn Grothman, Joe Liebham and Duey Stroebel. The winner will face Democrat Mark Harris in November.
The State Senate race in District 15 has three Democrats running, Janis Ringhand, Austin Scieszinski and Mike Sheridan.
The winner will face Republican Brian Fitzgerald in November.
District 17 Senate race has Republican Howard Marklein running unopposed.
Democrats Pat Bomhack and Ernie Wittwer will face off.
District 21 has two Republican candidates running Jonathan Steitz and Van Wanggaard.
They will be facing Democrat Randy Bryce in November.
“This election is important, the impact is important, especially for young people,” said Marilyn Burress, election commission laborer.
“Young people need to get prepared to vote.”
“There are very important offices on the ballot that will be shaping policy on issues,” Albrecht said. “More job creation occurs on a local level than federal.
If I was a young person, I would be thinking about jobs. Governors and the state legislator make these policies.”
“Some young people don’t realize that voting is their civic duty,” Oates said.
“The importance of voicing their opinion in a positive manner.”
Oates added, “My 22- year-old daughter has voted in every election since she was 18.
She went with me to vote in the 2008 presidential election when I voted for President Obama. She said she wanted to witness history.”
“My daughter registered to vote when she turned 18,” said Oates.
According to the Election Commission, residents who are not currently registered can still register and vote at their voting site on Election day.
Voters must have lived at their current address for at least 28 days before the election.
To register, you need to have acceptable proof of residency documents. Voting hours on August 12 are 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information on your voting location, and acceptable residency documents go to Milwaukee.gov/election.