Summary
Only 17% of Madison voters showed up for the last city election—and the mayor won with just 10% of the electorate. That means a tiny fraction of residents are deciding the budget, services, and direction of city hall for everyone. If you care about local decisions reflecting what most people want, this is a turnout problem worth fixing.
At a glance
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Impact analysis
With so few people voting, a tiny group gets to steer how your tax dollars are spent—so most residents have little say in the budget and services they pay for.
Incumbents and organized groups benefit most, because they only need to mobilize a small, reliable base to win and shape city hall.
Most residents lose out—especially renters, younger voters, and neighborhoods with less political clout—because a small minority is choosing the mayor and setting priorities for everyone.
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