Democrats and Republicans largely disagree on how to proceed with future elections. Proposals include measures that could impact could determine how Wisconsin picks congressional candidates, how it awards its 10 Electoral College votes, how fast results can be announced and who can vote absentee. Experts say major changes to Wisconsin's election laws are unlikely for now because of partisan divides.

Reporting by Anya van Wagtendonk in partnership with Votebeat. Originally published March 9, 2021.

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Some Wisconsinites have been waiting for unemployment aid from the Department of Workforce Development for months. Workers at the department have to use outdated technology, like a 60-year-old computing program, to process a record number of claims this past year. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and the GOP-controlled Legislature have also spent months blaming each other for the agency’s shortcomings as they stalemate in addressing many of Wisconsin’s challenges.

Reporting by Bram Sable-Smith. Originally published February 18, 2021.

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The coronavirus has run rampant across Wisconsin’s state prison system, infecting at least 2,153 staff members at adult institutions who self-reported test results and 10,786 inmates throughout the pandemic — more than half of the current population. These outbreaks have killed at least 25 inmates, according to Wisconsin Deparment of Corrections data. The state has detected infections among inmates at a rate more than five times higher than in the Wisconsin general population. Advocates are concerned that prisons aren't equipped to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

Reporting by Vanessa Swales. Originally published on Feb. 13, 2021.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major backlogs in Wisconsin's unemployment system. Families are still waiting on the Department of Workforce Development to process jobless claims filed last spring, with many missing bill payments, racking up credit card debt, facing eviction or worse. DWD officials say that they have processed more claims in the last eight months than they had in the last four years. Hurdles like outdated computer systems and understaffed call centers are slowing the process even more.

Reporting by Bram Sable-Smith in parternship with Marty Hobe of TMJ4 News. Originally published on Nov. 17, 2020.

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Rampant COVID-19 infections and thousands of deaths of Wisconsin mink could pose a potential threat to humans, as viruses can hop between species and mutate. Now, mink farmers are gearing up to get the vaccine along with first responders and essential workers in Wisconsin. The state has not seen a mink-to-human infection yet, but evidence of mink-to-human transmission in Denmark, the world’s top mink producer, is concerning officials.

Reporting by Kate Golden. Originally published January 30, 2021.

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In the days after the November presidential election, a petition filed in the Wisconsin Supreme Court alleging mass election fraud called for electoral votes for Trump to replace Biden's. Wisconsin Republican Assembley Speaker Robin Vos ordered an investigation into the state's election results because of claims of "mail-in ballot dumps and voter fraud." These efforts ended up not changing Wisconsin's Electoral College outcome, but changes in Electoral College law mean such moves could be possible in the future. Legal and political challenges to the 2020 presidential election have raised questions of whether a state’s election outcome can be subverted by officials who favor a different result.

Reporting by Anya van Wagtendonk in partnership with Votebeat. Originally published November 25, 2020.

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Coronavirus skeptics in Wisconsin have gathered to protest mask-wearing and lockdown mandates throughout the pandemic. According to public health and communication experts, misinformation campaigns are one factor working against the state's pandemic response. As preperations continue for the coronavirus vaccine to be distributed across the nation, the misinformation that fuels many pandemic denialists is already threatening this fragile response.

Reporting by Howard Hardee. Originally published on Dec. 8, 2020.

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COVID-19 has brought the struggles of the disability community to vote independently to the forefront. Despite the recent efforts to expand voting access through absentee ballots, disability community members and advocates say that different barriers emerged for people with disabilities during the pandemic.

Reporting by Nora Eckert in partnership with Votebeat. Originally published on Jan. 12, 2021.

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Former Police Chief David Couper provides an alternative model to policing protests that respects free speech and curbs violence. Couper worked to improve community relations and build trust in the Madison Police Department during his time as police chief. After a summer of unrest and escalation in Madison, Couper shares his views on where today's police departments are going wrong.

Reporting by Clara Neupert of Wisconsin Watch and News414. Wisconsin Watch intern Will Cioci also contributed to this report.

Originally published on December 9, 2020

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Republican officials, lawyers, voters, volunteer poll watchers and recount observers dominated the roster of speakers on Dec. 11, 2020. They aired a range of concerns, including perceived bullying at polling places, foreign ownership of voting machines and frustrations with longstanding voting practices in Wisconsin, such as the use of in-person early absentee voting.

Reported by Anya van Wagtendonk and Nora Eckert, Wisconsin Watch/Votebeat project reporters.

Originally published on December 11, 2020.

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