The best time to support independent local news is now.

Donate today

👋 Hello! You've read quite a few articles on our site. Our goal is to build strong, informed and connected communities across Wisconsin. Can you help? Please share our stories and, if you can afford to, become a monthly supporter.

  • Newsletters
  • Donate
  • About us
  • Recent stories
  • Major projects
    • Statehouse coverage
    • Fact briefs
    • Voter guide
    • Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk
    • NEW News Lab
    • Prison Problems
    • Change is on the Air
    • False Choice
    • Project archives
  • Coverage areas
    • Government
    • Economy
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health & Welfare
    • Justice & Safety
    • Opinion
    • Photo Essays
    • News about Wisconsin Watch
  • News414
  • Bsky
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Our Investigations. Your Inbox.

Subscribe to our newsletters
Skip to content

  • Bsky
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
Wisconsin Watch

Wisconsin Watch

Nonprofit, nonpartisan news about Wisconsin

  • Newsletters
  • Donate
Donate
  • About us
  • Recent stories
  • Major projects
    • Statehouse coverage
    • Fact briefs
    • Voter guide
    • Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk
    • NEW News Lab
    • Prison Problems
    • Change is on the Air
    • False Choice
    • Project archives
  • Coverage areas
    • Government
    • Economy
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health & Welfare
    • Justice & Safety
    • Opinion
    • Photo Essays
    • News about Wisconsin Watch
  • News414

Never miss stories like this one.

We cover issues that deserve more attention. Get our free Wednesday newsletter and you'll always be in the know.

Avatar photo

Author Archives: Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin WatchReporter

Anya van Wagtendonk joined the Center in 2020 as a reporter with Wisconsin Watch’s Votebeat collaboration — a pop-up nonprofit newsroom covering local election administration and voting in six states, created by Chalkbeat. Most recently, she covered local business and government in west Michigan at the Muskegon Chronicle and MLive. She is a former politics reporter and producer at the PBS NewsHour and regular politics and policy contributor at Vox.com, and has also worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer. A proud graduate of the the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, where she specialized in political reporting and documentary filmmaking, her freelance work has appeared in POLITICO Magazine, the Washington Post, Village Voice and elsewhere, and has been supported with grants from the Solutions Journalism Network, the New York National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and ACES: The Society for Editing.

avanwagtendonk@wisconsinwatch.org
Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

Bids to alter Wisconsin elections fall mostly along partisan lines

Avatar photo by Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch March 9th, 2021March 8th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Republicans want to restrict drop boxes and absentee voting. Democrats aim to make it easier to vote. Both parties favor quicker vote counting.

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

Experts offer advice on how to make voting easier in Wisconsin

Avatar photo by Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch March 9th, 2021July 13th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

The state ranks relatively well on most measures of election administration. But some advocates say Wisconsin could do more to help people vote.

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

In evenly split Wisconsin, partisan divides may only grow

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Nora Eckert / Wisconsin Watch and Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch January 23rd, 2021April 8th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Close elections may become more common in Wisconsin, fueling participation but also more political divisiveness

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

Wisconsin caucuses pose thorny safety issues during pandemic

Avatar photo by Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch January 7th, 2021March 1st, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Some towns and villages require residents to choose local candidates in January gatherings. Do these caucuses violate disability and voting rights?

Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch

Turbulent times need diligent reporters

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Nora Eckert / Wisconsin Watch and Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch December 22nd, 2020February 24th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

We all can do our part to ensure fact-checked, in-depth reporting continues into 2021 and beyond. Join us in supporting Wisconsin Watch by giving a one-time gift of $60, $120, $240 or whatever you’re able to give.

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

Wisconsin GOP lawmakers call for tighter voting rules; Dems call election hearing a ‘sham’

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch and Nora Eckert / Wisconsin Watch December 11th, 2020March 8th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Republicans called for changes to election law and made broad allegations of fraud and misconduct but offered little proof.

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

Could lawmakers ‘mess’ with Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes? Possibly.

Avatar photo by Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch November 25th, 2020February 24th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Experts say pro-Trump lawmakers could try to overturn voters’ will and send an alternate set of electors, but the Democratic governor could block the effort

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

Trump Wisconsin recount seeks to throw out tens of thousands of votes in Democratic strongholds

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Nora Eckert / Wisconsin Watch and Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch November 21st, 2020February 24th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

The president’s team wants to toss 170,000 in-person absentee ballots in Dane and Milwaukee counties; experts call the effort a long shot.

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

‘Proud of my city’: Turnout down, but Milwaukee’s Black voters leapt hurdles to vote

Avatar photo by Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch November 11th, 2020February 24th, 2021 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Despite smaller turnout, activists see hopeful signs of determination as voters cast ballots amid a pandemic and barriers to get-out-the-vote efforts.

Posted inGovernment, Narrow Margin

Masks, poll watchers, pandemic: Wisconsin prepares for Election Day

Avatar photoAvatar photo by Anya Van Wagtendonk / Wisconsin Watch and Nora Eckert / Wisconsin Watch November 2nd, 2020November 30th, 2022 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Election officials say they expect a smooth day of voting Tuesday, but they remain on the lookout for disruptions and intimidation.

Wisconsin Watch
  • Bsky
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

About

  • Our newsletters
  • Awards and honors
  • Republishing guidelines
  • Ethics
  • Funding
  • Pitch guidelines for freelancers
  • Corrections and clarifications

Our People

  • Our people
  • Board of Directors
  • Journalism Advisory Board
  • Jobs at Wisconsin Watch

Our Impact

  • Stories making a difference

What we cover

  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Government
  • Health
  • Justice System

Media Partners

  • Media Downloads
  • Republishing guidelines

Contact

Mailing address:
Wisconsin Watch
P.O. Box 5079
Milwaukee, WI 53205

608-262-3642

info@wisconsinwatch.org

Send Us A Tip

Who we are

Wisconsin Watch is a project of the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (WCIJ Inc.) — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Federal tax ID: 26-2143608

© 2025 Wisconsin Watch Powered by Newspack User Agreement and Privacy Policy