Brookfield voters in key Waukesha County head to the polls Combined, the Town and City of Brookfield cast 55% of its votes for Trump over Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Located in Waukesha County, it’s on the map of key tipping points to watch in this election. “I think Brookfield is a wonderful place, I don't think there's any contention,” said voter Jenny Meza, who cast her ballot for Trump at Brookfield Central High School on Tuesday. “We're a neighborly community. We see signs for both candidates but, rest assured, if there was a fire at the neighbor's house and a different political sign in the yard, the residents of Brookfield would still help every single person. "I don't think there's any division in Brookfield, or at least I haven't experienced that. I think by trying to advertise that there could be division is division in and of itself. I think Brookfield's a wonderful community.” Meza, who’s expecting her third child in January, said she enjoys the atmosphere of the polling place. “I love paper ballots and I like to be able to have the control of actually placing it in the machine and knowing my vote is counting.” Kate Dwyer brought her sleeping 8-week old daughter, Adeline, to the polling place at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. Dwyer said the biggest issue that concerned her in this election was border control. “I have a couple of brothers that live in Denver, Colorado, and they're talking all the time about how bad it is there with the amount of crime that's gone up,” she said. “And just for (Adeline’s) safety, to be honest with you. That's really all it came down to. I need her to be safe, and the border has not been taken care of the past four years, and that scares me.” For Ted and Pat, both in their early 70s and residents of Brookfield since 1980, a vote for Trump came down to the candidate they felt was more competent to handle the job. “His opponent just hasn't demonstrated any competence whatsoever in her entire career,” Ted said. There’s also a sense of relief that the election season is nearly over. Pat said she wasn’t sure she’d be watching the election coverage late into the night. “We’ve seen so much,” she said with a laugh. “I don’t know if we want to see anymore.” “I really wish the government would set aside x number of dollars for each candidate,” Ted said of campaign spending. “Nobody’s allowed to spend any more (than that). Take your best shot with equal time.” Catherine Rose, a 15-year resident of Brookfield, cast her vote for Democrats. “The Republican Party has become very divisive and angry,” she said. “I know Democrats can be that way too, but when Kamala was here and Trump was here, their messages were so different, and I don't like the division. I generally vote Libertarian, but I just do not want to see the division we have for another four years.” Charles Zhang, 60, and his son, Andrew, 25, came to the polls at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, and it was Andrew’s first time voting, drawn in by the presidential race. “I feel like too much (one side) attacks the other side without a conversation on real issues, how to grow and move forward,” said Charles, who didn't want to reveal for whom he voted. Inside the Arts Center, things were relatively quiet and smooth by 8 a.m. after a surge of 150 voters at 7 a.m. Poll chief Tom Jansen said he usually oversees four staffers counting absentee voters, but this time the count is up to eight, with 62% of registered voters in Brookfield already casting their ballot before Tuesday. “We keep experienced people with new people,” he said. “Today is my first day having a lot more new people, so I make sure they're with an experienced person. At the beginning of the day, we make sure to say, ‘Any questions, just ask.’ There are no bad questions. Most people really enjoy doing this. It's a civic service.” — JR Radcliffe