Historic impeachment proceedings won’t shape election outcome, say UW’s political experts

Election details On the ballot The Nov. 3 election includes races for governor, U.S. Senate, and Congress. Some communities may have their own elections or referendum questions as well. How to register to vote Voters can register with municipal clerks before 5 p.m. on the 2nd Wednesday preceding the election. You also can register at the polls on election day. Bring identification giving your complete name and address. Acceptable forms of identification include a Wisconsin driver’s license, Wisconsin ID card, library card, check cashing or courtesy card issued by a merchant, real estate tax bill or receipt or a gas, electric or telephone service statement dated less than 90 days prior to the election. Absentee voting Absentee voting is allowed if you expect to be traveling on election day, if you are 70 or over, to sick to go to the polls, have a physical disability, or anticipate other circumstances that will keep you from voting Nov. 3. All applications for absentee ballots must be made in writing either by mail or in the office of the municipal clerk. You can vote by mail or at the clerk’s office. Where to vote For Madison: http://www.co.dane.wi.us/coclerk/pollmad.htm For the rest of Dane County: http://www.co.dane.wi.us/coclerk/polling.htm

The avalanche of political commercials might make you feel as if you know Tommy and Tammy and all the other election candidates better than your neighbor – and with good reason.

This election year, partisan control of the state Legislature and Congress depends on a few key elections. With several of those key races in our area, candidates are waging some of the most competitive and expensive campaigns ever in Wisconsin.

Nevertheless, after all the thousands of dollars have been spent, the elections still turn on one major factor – the voter. Voter turnout will be the most instrumental factor in determining which of the major parties comes out on top Nov. 3, says Don Kettl, UW–Madison political science professor who heads the La Follette Institute of Public Affairs.

Republicans could have a high turnout due to the impeachment proceedings and a popular governor on their ticket – but the same factors could spur Democratic voters to the polls.

“On turnout, it seems to me we know two things,” Kettl says. “One is that turnout is going to be all important in this election and the second is that nobody knows how things are going to go.”

Surprisingly, the presidential impeachment proceedings, which have dominated Washington politics the past few weeks, have had little bearing on campaigns. Kettl says the proceedings have been a strategy used in some races across the country, but have been met with little success.

“It seems many of the events going on in Wisconsin now are disconnected in many ways from what’s going on nationally,” Kettl says.

According to Kettl, it is risky for Republicans to use the impeachment debate as a campaign strategy because they are beginning to see some public backlash.

That helps keep campaigns more focused on issues. And as is often the case, the most heated debate between the Democrats and Republicans keys on taxing and spending issues.

According to UW–Madison political science professor Dennis Dresang, both parties favor tax cuts but diverge on the issue of how to divvy up the benefits.

“Republicans favor an across-the-board (tax cut),” he says, “whereas Democrats would like benefits distributed according to income, with lower and middle income getting the most.”

According to Dresang, Democrat Ed Garvey takes a stronger stand on this issue than fellow party members in his campaign for governor. Garvey advocates more tax relief for lower and middle income individuals, “in part with the current (state budget) surplus and in part with a tax increase on big businesses and the wealthy.”

Spending views also provide stark contrasts. Dresang says Republicans tend to emphasize more money for prisons and justice, while Democrats more often push for more education money.

Gender differences in voting behavior are not anticipated to have a significant impact on elections, but with women taking more visible roles as candidates – both candidates for the Madison area’s seat in Congress are women, for example – it’s a point of interest.

Women have a tendency to support Democrats more so than men, even when the Republican candidate is a female, says UW–Madison political science professor Virginia Sapiro. Such is the case in one of the most competitive and crucial races in Wisconsin between Nancy Mistele and Jon Erpenbach for the 27th District state Senate seat.

“Women are somewhat more in favor of government taking a strong role in social welfare issues,” says Sapiro. “Men are more concerned with fiscal restraint.”

Sapiro says the elections where gender might make a difference are the races between Russ Feingold and Mark Neuman for U.S. Senate and Tammy Baldwin and Jo Musser for Congress. Both races have garnered national attention.

Musser and Baldwin take similar stances on abortion and social security funding, issues that traditionally influence women voters. In this case, Sapiro says, “it depends on whether voters will look at their individual contributions or how they will fit in with Congress once in office.”