Mary Richards
A sign on Bascom hill encouraging UW Madison students to vote on April 1, 2025.
The 2025 Wisconsin Spring Election had high student voter turnout, especially for a non-partisan and non-presidential race, according to Elections Research Center Director Barry Burden.
“Typically, student turnout will drop off substantially in a non-presidential election, especially a nonpartisan spring election, but that did not happen in the student wards around campus,” Burden said. “The turnout rates were closer to what they were in the presidential [election] than is true for other voters around the state.”
The total voter turnout for Madison wards 56-63 — an area including the University of Wisconsin campus — was 7,152 voters for the 2023 Spring Election, 11,367 voters in the 2024 General Election and 8,473 voters in the 2025 Spring Election.
Each of the campus-area wards saw an increase in voter turnout from the 2023 Spring Election, with the highest percentage increase of 52% in ward 56. The other wards ranged from a 4% to a 26% increase in voter turnout.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court race gathered national attention due to the controversy surrounding funding, as billionaire Elon Musk funded Brad Schimel’s campaign, according to previous reporting by The Badger Herald. The connection to the current administration’s actions in Washington, D.C. is believed to have helped drive student turnout this year, specifically, Burden said.
“They [students] were very engaged in the Supreme Court race,” Burden said. “Part of the level of activity, I think, [was] a response to all of the controversy happening in Washington. I think the fact that Musk was so involved in the Wisconsin election … that really connected Washington events with the Supreme Court race for a lot of students and energized them to get out and vote.”
Burden also said turnout was high despite the election coinciding with students returning to campus from spring break.
Strong student voter turnout could also impact the results of the 2026 midterm elections, Burden said.
“It is possible that Congress will be up for grabs next year, and it is possible that the House of Representatives could flip,” Burden said. “But Republicans only have a small margin there, and Wisconsin could be part of that movement to either flip the House or keep Republicans in control.”
Both parties, but especially Democrats, are working to engage more with students, as young people are becoming increasingly essential for winning statewide races, according to Burden.
Students are often new to the political process and could be voting for the first time, so campaigns can expand their efforts by providing resources and education and giving them reasons to show up, Burden said. Student organizations are often a more trusted source for students because of the relatability and established rapport, so they also have an important role to play on college campuses.
The swing of student votes from November’s election to this Supreme Court race in April 2026 is significant because of how well President Donald Trump did in 2024 versus 2020 and 2016, Burden said.
“The Supreme Court race was a swing hard in the other direction,” Burden said. “It looks like Crawford got about nine out of every 10 votes in student areas. So whatever appeal Trump had in bringing some students to the Republican side, that didn’t stick in the Supreme Court race.”