Your Daily Guide

🗳️ Sabrina Madison is Leaving Madison Politics: City Council President Sabrina Madison has surprised local political observers by announcing that, not only will she not run for mayor in 2027, she will not run for re-election to the council either and will leave Madison after her term ends. Madison said she has accepted an opportunity outside of Wisconsin that will start in August.

• Madison was just on the City Cast Madison podcast in August talking about police accountability, the new men’s shelter and one of her proudest accomplishments – the new Imagination Center library. [WMTV, 🎧City Cast Madison]

🚨 A Violent Week in Madison: Madison Police are investigating four fatal shootings last week in the city, including two homicides within hours of each other on Halloween weekend. None of the shootings appear to be related, police said. [News 3]

🏥 Wisconsin Approaching 400 Measles Cases: The measles outbreak in Wisconsin continues to grow, with the state Department of Health Services tracker logging 392 cases on Oct. 30. Dane County has one confirmed or probable case so far. Most cases have been reported in nearby Grant and Lafayette counties as well as neighboring Iowa county..

• Health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated, noting that all but three of the 392 cases were found in unvaccinated people. [DHS, News 3]

👮 Outside Experts To Review Police Use of Force: Independent researchers from the University of South Carolina will investigate how and when Madison police officers use physical and deadly force. The review, which will begin in January, was requested by the police department. [WMTV]

🥕 Farmer Market Takes Root at Wednesday Public Market: Every Wednesday, the Madison Public Market will become the Madison Public Farmer’s Market. Market officials said the new moniker better reflects the mix of food vendors, farmers, and others that gather at the market each Wednesday. Plus, in case you missed it, parking is free at the market through the end of the year thanks to an anonymous donor. [Facebook]

🦏 Harmon the Rhino Horns Out of Madison: The Henry Vilas Zoo is saying goodbye to Harmon, the 11-year-old male southern white rhino. Harmon is going to a new Association of Zoos and Aquariums facility to help breed future generations of rhinos (Fun fact: Ages 10-12 are when rhinos are at their sexual peak!) He’ll still be at the zoo until Nov. 11, so stop by and wish him well. [Facebook]

🎃 Pumpkin Spice Up That Leaf Pile! Now that spooky season is over, put out your pumpkins, gourds, hay, and other compostable plant decorations in your leaf and yard waste piles, and the city’s Streets Division will collect them. Look up your address’s collection schedule here, or bring the pumpkins to a drop-off site or composting event. [City of Madison]

It’s Election Day! Here’s What You Should Know

It’s all been leading up to this. Today is Election Day in Wisconsin, and voters will decide who will sit in the governor’s mansion, who will control the state Legislature, and so much more.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, executive producer Hayley Sperling chats with entrepreneur and former Madison alder Scott Resnick and writer/comedian Emily Winter about what they’ve got their eyes on this Election Day. Plus, they talk about why the Dane County District Attorney’s office said “Relax, pal” to potential charges against a UW fraternity for alleged hazing.

Head To the Polls!

If you haven’t voted early, either by mail or at an in-person absentee ballot location, your polling place will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and state law requires that you be allowed to vote if you’re in line by 8 p.m. Not sure where your polling place is? Find it here!

The City Cast Madison team put together this comprehensive voting guide to the Nov 3. election, answering your questions on what you need to bring to the polls (including if you still need to register to vote), what’s on the ballot and more.

For a deeper drilldown on the ballot, check out my article on the three constitutional amendment questions on the ballot, and creative producer Jade Iseri-Ramos’ helpful amendments explainer on our social media accounts. I also looked at the race for secretary of state and state treasurer – not only who’s running, but what those offices actually do.

Where To Get Results

Once the polls close at 8 p.m., bookmark this page at the Dane County Clerk’s Office to get the latest election results throughout the night.

But be prepared to be patient. While races in deep-blue or deep-red parts of the state might get called within the first hour, close races might take longer. In 2018 and 2022, the Wisconsin governor’s race wasn’t officially called until after 1 a.m. And election officials always caution that even those results are technically unofficial until they’re certified at the local, county, and state levels.