With the Wisconsin gubernatorial election quickly approaching, Milwaukee residents are making sure their voices will be heard.
In the August 2026 partisan primary election, Milwaukee County had 499,705 registered voters, a 36.2% voter turnout, according to the Milwaukee County Election Commission.
The Milwaukee County Election Commission held voter registration and election information events across the city for three days in celebration of National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 15.
The final event was held at the Marcia P. Coggs Health and Human Services Center, 1230 W. Cherry St., on Sept. 17.
At the event, residents could register to vote, check their registration status and ask election officials questions.
Fatuma Shale, Milwaukee resident
Why she came:
“I was not registered, so I came to register. Voting matters, and that has a big impact on our economy, how we live, our future. It’s a big deal for us to vote.”
If she typically votes:
“I do vote, yes, especially the presidential elections.”
Why voting is important to her:
“It does have a big impact on our future, our kids’ lives, our economy and what we do from here on.”
What she wants her politicians to do:
“I wish that our politicians would actually work hard on education because college is very expensive for our kids, for all of us.”
Bridgette Nathan, Milwaukee resident
Why she came:
“To make sure that I am registered, so I don’t have any complications when I get to the (voting) booth.”
If she typically votes:
“Yes, every election.”
Why voting is important to her:
“That’s my way of telling people what I want to see and who I want to see, making things happen for us.”
What she wants her politicians to do:
“I want them to do what they promised they were going to do. Don’t get into office and campaign on one thing, then go and do something completely different than what you campaigned on. If you’re going to campaign on housing or the community, then stand on that. You know?”
Sonja Dockery, Milwaukee resident
Why she came:
“It’s important to me: one, to know if I’m registered, and then, two, to know where I should go to vote. Then, when it’s time to vote for the election, I can vote.”
If she typically votes:
“I missed the last one because I forgot the date. But the next one that’s coming up, I’m for sure going to vote.”
Why voting is important to her:
“Things that are happening really interest me, and I really need to go out there and vote, so things can change. Things aren’t great right now, so I’m just hoping that my vote helps to change that.”
What she wants her politicians to do:
“Just have the people’s best interests at hand here, because right now it’s not. Everything that is happening is the opposite of what it’s supposed to be, and it’s not great right now.”
Cheryl Solomon, Milwaukee resident
Why she came:
“To make sure I’m registered, so that when it’s time to vote, I don’t have to wait longer.”
If she typically votes:
“No, not every one (election).”
Why voting is important to her:
“I think a lot’s coming up, so I want to be ready.”
What she wants her politicians to do:
“I want them to do what they say they would do. That’s the main thing.”
Niko Owens, deputy elections director for Milwaukee County
Why they’re hosting this event:
“We are celebrating National Voter Registration Day, which was Tuesday, and we planned some outings for the whole week, so that we could get into the community and make sure everyone has an opportunity to check their voter registration status.”
What their expectations are for the event:
“There’s no expectation of numbers. We just try to make sure that we’re available to them, if anyone needs our services, because a lot of people can’t always get to the courthouse. We want to extend ourselves to them. Most people are already registered, but we just like people to make sure that everything is correct, so when they get to the polls on Election Day, they can just vote.”
The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Click here for more information on your polling location.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
