County clerk reports record 59% April turnout, flags federal SAVE Act and passport access

Dunn County’s county clerk told the Committee on Administration on an update that the county recorded a 59% turnout in the April election, a level the clerk described as “record setting” and “unprecedented.” The clerk said staff had planned for about a 50% turnout when ordering ballots and that most voters were able to cast ballots without long delays.

The clerk said the county typically sees 32%–36% turnout in April elections and recalled a 47% turnout in the spring 2023 election that included a state Supreme Court race. “We had budgeted and kind of planned for about a 50% turnout,” the clerk said, adding that 63 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties reported needing to print additional ballots on Election Day.

The clerk told supervisors the county is watching the federal SAVE Act, a U.S. congressional proposal that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration if enacted in the form passed by the U.S. House. The clerk said Wisconsin already verifies registrations against Department of Motor Vehicles records and that most current registered voters in Wisconsin should already meet the requirement as written by the House. The clerk warned that the law could complicate re‑registration for people moving into Wisconsin or people whose names on birth records differ from their current names.

On passport services, the clerk said the county has tried to re‑establish a passport acceptance license that was relinquished in 2022 when staffing did not support the service. The clerk said the county has fielded approximately 50–75 calls per week asking about passports and that the U.S. State Department currently assigns passport licenses by ZIP code; the clerk said ZIP code 54751 covers a large area that includes Dunn County and that the State Department is reassessing where passport facilities are located. The clerk noted that Deputy County Clerk Sue Brathole has prior experience processing passports and could staff the program if the license is returned.

Supervisors asked whether passports or real IDs would be required under the federal proposal; the clerk answered that the SAVE Act language the House approved would require a real ID or passport but cautioned that the bill had not become law and could change in reconciliation with the Senate. The clerk said the county is coordinating with the Wisconsin Elections Commission to track developments and prepare for implementation if necessary.

The clerk also said Wisconsin can be politically unpredictable, noting that the county had one of the largest swings in party vote between November and April (a 16‑point swing to the left), and that this may draw additional attention to Dunn County in future contests.

No formal action was taken on the SAVE Act or passport licensing during the meeting; the clerk’s report was an informational update to the committee.