Dane County Circuit Court Judge Susan Crawford visited students and volunteers on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus Tuesday who are working to get out the vote for the Wisconsin Supreme Court election.
Crawford met and talked with student volunteers tabling on Library Mall to support their work, take pictures and encourage students to vote in the pivotal race, which will decide the ideological balance of the court. Polls in Madison are open until 8 p.m.
“Students should exercise their right to vote, so I’m just here to encourage students to get out and cast their ballots today,” Crawford told The Daily Cardinal.
Crawford highlighted the impact the student vote will have on this election and why young people in particular should care about the outcome.
“The decisions that are made by the court affect everybody and arguably affect young people more, because they have a whole lot of life ahead of them,” Crawford said. “Among other things, access to reproductive health care is something that I think a lot of young people care about, the right to vote in their elections and other interpersonal rights.”
Students who met Crawford expressed their concern for abortion rights, naming it their top issue they are voting on, alongside public safety.
“I just think [voting’s] always important because living in a country where we get our voices heard is honestly pretty special and a rare thing, so I feel like everyone should vote, but especially in local elections. People often forget that national ones aren't the only ones,” said Riley Sarsany, a sophomore at UW-Madison.
Additionally, students mentioned the importance of voting in a swing state and encouraged students from non-swing states to register to vote in Wisconsin.
“Here, every vote counts,” student Emily Lawson said.
Crawford criticized Elon Musk for trying to “bribe voters” and her opponent, former Republican attorney general and Waukesha County Circuit Judge Brad Schimel, for running on a “very partisan message.”
Musk has spent more than $20 million aiding Schimel’s campaign. He also handed out $1 million payments to two Wisconsin voters after the Wisconsin Supreme Court declined to hear a case requesting to stop him on Sunday, two days before the election.
But Crawford said she’s feeling “pretty relaxed” ahead of polls closing and is looking forward to seeing the result.
“Overall, voters got a chance to know who I am and what I stand for, and I’m hoping that they vote for me today,” Crawford said.
Polls are open today until 8 p.m. Voters are also able to register at their polling location, which can be found here.
Clara Strecker is a copy chief for The Daily Cardinal. She also covers state news.
