Voters across the state will decide one of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court justices Tuesday, despite the expected low voter turnout.

The Supreme Court justice race pits incumbent Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson against challenger Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Randy Koschnick on the ballot for the April 7 race, which is expected to bring few voters to the polls.

According to Government Accountability Board spokesperson Kyle Richmond, estimates of voter turnout range from 15 percent to 20 percent, figures that were configured using previous Supreme Court voter turnout records.

“In most communities, there are some really important offices up for election and some very important races to be decided,” said Mike McCabe, director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. “And unfortunately, probably one out of every five voters or even fewer are going to decide this.”

One possible reason for low voter turnout could be that citizens are turned off by negative campaign ads, which have become a popular marketing tool used by candidates, McCabe said, adding the ads can be “downright nasty” and feature some statements that are not true.

McCabe also added he agrees with the Government Accountability Board’s numbers released Friday even though this year’s ballot is not quite as high profile as in years past.

Despite the expected turnout, both candidates are working to educate voters and encourage supporters to head to the polls tomorrow.

According to Heather Colburn, spokesperson for Abrahamson, the Chief Justice is the best candidate based on her merits of sticking to the law rather than taking a stance on controversial issues like stem cell research, gun control or gay marriage.

Abrahamson has been serving on the Wisconsin Supreme Court since her 1976 appointment by former governor Patrick Lucey. She was appointed then to Chief Justice in 1996, becoming the state’s first female Chief Justice. In addition to serving on the court, Abrahamson lectures at Marquette University Law School and the University of Wisconsin Law School.

“She has been standing up and fighting for the people of Wisconsin … she has great experience and she’s done a great job,” Colburn said.

Challenger Koschnick disagrees.

Koschnick has served as presiding judge of the Jefferson County Circuit Court since 1999 and also currently serves as deputy judge of Wisconsin’s third judicial district. Before that, Koschnick served 14 years as a public defender in La Crosse and Jefferson counties.

According to Koschnick campaign advisor Seamus Flaherty, Abrahamson goes beyond simply following the laws by practicing her beliefs from the judicial bench.

Koschnick, Flaherty argues, practices judicial conservatism by applying only the laws and the constitution as they are written.

“When judges go beyond laws that are passed and go beyond the constitution, power starts to concentrate in the judicial (branch),” Flaherty said. “Philosophy of judicial activism steals power from the people.”

Both candidates have done extensive campaigning throughout the state over the past few months, including making a final push for supporters at fundraisers during the past few weeks. Currently, Abrahamson has raised four times more funds than Koschnick, according to campaign figures.

Colburn also said he encourages university students to vote in this election, arguing with such low voter turnout, students will have the opportunity to have their voices amplified.

Similarly, Flaherty encouraged voters to educate themselves on candidates’ and their judicial philosophies before heading to the polls on Tuesday.

The winner of the election will serve out a 10-year term on the State Supreme Court.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday. In addition to the Supreme Court Race, local elections will also be held for the Madison City Council and Dane County Executive, as well as a citywide referendum and other smaller races.