The Race For Wisconsin's Supreme Court: Patch 2023 Election Guide

WISCONSIN — Millions of dollars and countless advertisements have been poured into the race for Wisconsin's Supreme Court, but it all comes down to the voices of voters on Tuesday.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. If you get in line by poll closing time, you can stay to vote.

In what is slated as a non-partisan race, liberal-backed Janet Protasiewicz is facing off against conservative-backed Dan Kelly. Whoever wins the position will be one of seven justices tasked with decisions that impact every Wisconsinite. Down the line, that could include a decision on the state's 1849 criminal abortion ban, which is currently being litigated by leading state Democrats. Whoever is elected may also have an important say in how Wisconsin's election maps are redistricted.

Unlike justices serving on the U.S. Supreme Court, who are appointed into a lifetime membership, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices must be elected by voters across the state every 10 years. Kelly already has some experience with the state's supreme court; he was appointed by former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in 2016, but lost his bid for re-election to a liberal-backed candidate in 2020. Meanwhile, Protasiewicz has boasted recent experience as a circuit court judge and previous experience as an assistant district attorney.

Check registration, request ballots, and figure out where to vote at myvote.wi.gov.

What to know about registering to vote and returning an absentee ballot:

Wisconsin has same-day voter registration, so as long as you get to your polling place on election day with photo identification and proof of residence, you'll be able to cast your ballot in the election.

If you still have an absentee ballot to return, make sure you get it to your clerk by 8 p.m. on Tuesday. It has to be in person and you can only return your own. Also, note that the state's supreme court outlawed the use of dropboxes for ballots.

It is too late to mail a ballot back and expect its safe return.

Here are some key things to know about the candidates:

Both have led campaigns that focus on constitutional rights:

Both Kelly's and Protasiewicz's campaign websites raise questions about Wisconsinite's constitutional rights. Kelly argues that our rights are "under attack from all sides," and says he would help the court remain "a bulwark against judicial activism."

Meanwhile, Protasiewicz's campaign website argues, "our system works because the law is predictable. You can read the constitution, the statutes, and case law, and know what to expect, but as we can see on an almost-daily basis, our most closely-held constitutional rights are under attack by radical right-wing extremists."

Control of the court, and the future of Wisconsin politics at-large, is at stake:

Whoever wins the election on Tuesday will set the majority control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, according to a report by The Associated Press. With that comes years of GOP policies, Republican-draw legislative maps, and even abortion on the line, the report said.

Candidates could decide future of abortion in Wisconsin:

Both candidates have had their opinions and statements about abortion peeled back leading up to Tuesday.

Their views are especially relevant as a case arguing against Wisconsin's abortion ban makes its way through the courts, and could land at the supreme court.

Protasiewicz has focused closely on abortion and embraced the issue without exactly saying how she may vote, the AP reported. Meanwhile, Kelly has not given a clear opinion on if the ban is legal, but in a 2012 blog post he said the National Organization for Women and the Democratic Party is committed to normalizing the taking of human life, the AP report said.