IN WISCONSIN, VOTING IS YOUR RIGHT...AND IT’S EASY! Below, you’ll find helpful information on voting in Wisconsin, and easy to use resources for those looking to register and obtain the proper ID’s.
YOUR VOTING CHECKLIST:
Find out if you are registered to vote.
If you need to register, it’s easy - here’s how.
Make sure you have the proper form of Photo ID.
Find your polling location or info for your local clerk.
Interested in voting early? Learn more.
Have more questions? The Wisconsin Voter Information Center has great tools to help voters across the state.
Below is the information from the Wisconsin Elections Commission on Absentee Voting (also referred to as Early Voting):
Who can Request an Absentee Ballot?
Any qualified elector (U.S. citizen, 18 years of age, who has resided in the district in which he or she intends to vote for at least 10 days) who registers to vote is eligible to request an absentee ballot. Under Wisconsin law, voters do not need a reason or excuse, such as being out of town on Election Day, to vote absentee. Any voter who prefers to vote by absentee ballot may request one. You have several options for requesting an absentee ballot and casting your vote.
Request an Absentee Ballot by Mail
If you are a registered Wisconsin voter, you can download the Application For Absentee Ballot (EL-121). Just complete the form and mail it to your municipal clerk's office. You can find your clerk at MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov by searching for your voter record or performing an address search. You can also find your clerk by searching through the list of all Wisconsin municipal clerks. Your application must be received by the clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election in order for an absentee ballot to be SENT to you. You will also need to provide a copy of your acceptable photo ID with your request. If you have not previously provided a copy of photo ID, photo ID must accompany your first application by mail. More information about photo ID can be found at www.bringit.wi.gov.
If you are not already registered, you will need to register to vote before an absentee ballot can be sent to you.
Voters who are indefinitely confined, meaning they have a difficult time getting to the polls due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, may request that a ballot be automatically sent to them for each election. Indefinitely confined voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their absentee ballot request. If you or someone you know are indefinitely confined you will make this designation in box 6 of the Application for Absentee Ballot (EL-121). More information on the exceptions to the photo ID law can be found at: http://bringit.wi.gov/are-there-exceptions-new-law
Military and Overseas voters have additional options for absentee ballot delivery.
Click here for Military and Overseas voting. Military and permanent overseas voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their request.
Request an Absentee Ballot by E-Mail, Online, or by Fax
Regular Wisconsin voters may also request that a ballot be sent to them by sending an e-mail or fax to their municipal clerk. Registered voters may also use www.myvote.wi.gov to request their absentee ballot by clicking "Vote Absentee." This request must be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election in order for an absentee ballot to be SENT to you. If you have not previously provided a copy of photo ID, photo ID must accompany your application. More information about the photo ID requirement can be found at www.bringit.wi.gov.
Instructions for Completing Absentee Ballot
You can find detailed instructions for completing your absentee ballot here: Uniform Instructions for Absentee Voters.
Deadlines for Returning Your Absentee Ballot
Your completed absentee ballot must be delivered no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service recommends absentee ballots be mailed one week before Election Day to arrive in time.
In-Person Absentee Voting at your Municipal Clerk's Office (Early Voting)
You can also vote absentee at your local municipal clerk's office. If you apply for an absentee ballot in your municipal clerk's office, or another designated location for in-person absentee voting, you will vote your ballot immediately in the clerk's office, seal your ballot in the proper envelope, and return it to a member of the clerk's staff. No ballots may be taken out of the clerk's office.
You will need to show your acceptable photo ID for voting when voting by in-person absentee ballot. More information about acceptable photo IDs can be found at www.bringit.wi.gov.
When can I Vote an In-Person Absentee Ballot?
Each city, village and town in Wisconsin is responsible for setting the dates and hours of in-person absentee voting for their municipality. To find the dates and hours for in-person absentee voting where you live, contact your municipal clerk.
Who is my Municipal Clerk?
The municipal clerk is the clerk for the City, Village or Town in Wisconsin where you reside. If you do not know who your municipal clerk is, or where the clerk's office is located, please use the MyVote Wisconsin website: myvote.wi.gov to locate your clerk's contact information. You can also find your clerk by searching a list of all Wisconsin Municipal Clerk Contact Information.
Early voting is no longer permitted on weekends.
Please check with your municipal clerk for office hours.
You can find your clerk at MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov by searching for your voter record or performing an address search. You can also find your clerk by searching through the list of all Wisconsin municipal clerks.
If you apply for an absentee ballot in your municipal clerk's office, vote your ballot immediately, seal your ballot in the proper envelope, and return it to a member of the clerk's staff. No ballots may be taken from the clerk's office.
Remember, you can only vote once!
Please note: In 2011 the Legislature passed Act 227, which prohibits a voter who has returned a completed absentee ballot from voting at the polling place on Election Day. Previously, voters who cast an absentee ballot and changed their minds could go to the polling place and vote on Election Day, and their absentee ballot would not be counted. This is no longer an option.
Instructions for Completing Absentee BallotYou can find detailed instructions here: Uniform Instructions for Absentee Voters.
If you do not know who your clerk is, or where the clerk's office is located, please use MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov.
Who can Request an Absentee Ballot?
Any qualified elector (U.S. citizen, 18 years of age, who has resided in the district in which he or she intends to vote for at least 10 days) who registers to vote is eligible to request an absentee ballot. Under Wisconsin law, voters do not need a reason or excuse, such as being out of town on Election Day, to vote absentee. Any voter who prefers to vote by absentee ballot may request one. You have several options for requesting an absentee ballot and casting your vote.
Request an Absentee Ballot by Mail
If you are a registered Wisconsin voter, you can download the Application For Absentee Ballot (EL-121). Just complete the form and mail it to your municipal clerk's office. You can find your clerk at MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov by searching for your voter record or performing an address search. You can also find your clerk by searching through the list of all Wisconsin municipal clerks. Your application must be received by the clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election in order for an absentee ballot to be SENT to you. You will also need to provide a copy of your acceptable photo ID with your request. If you have not previously provided a copy of photo ID, photo ID must accompany your first application by mail. More information about photo ID can be found at www.bringit.wi.gov.
If you are not already registered, you will need to register to vote before an absentee ballot can be sent to you.
Voters who are indefinitely confined, meaning they have a difficult time getting to the polls due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, may request that a ballot be automatically sent to them for each election. Indefinitely confined voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their absentee ballot request. If you or someone you know are indefinitely confined you will make this designation in box 6 of the Application for Absentee Ballot (EL-121). More information on the exceptions to the photo ID law can be found at: http://bringit.wi.gov/are-there-exceptions-new-law
Military and Overseas voters have additional options for absentee ballot delivery.
Click here for Military and Overseas voting. Military and permanent overseas voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their request.
Request an Absentee Ballot by E-Mail, Online, or by Fax
Regular Wisconsin voters may also request that a ballot be sent to them by sending an e-mail or fax to their municipal clerk. Registered voters may also use www.myvote.wi.gov to request their absentee ballot by clicking "Vote Absentee." This request must be made no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the election in order for an absentee ballot to be SENT to you. If you have not previously provided a copy of photo ID, photo ID must accompany your application. More information about the photo ID requirement can be found at www.bringit.wi.gov.
Instructions for Completing Absentee Ballot
You can find detailed instructions for completing your absentee ballot here: Uniform Instructions for Absentee Voters.
Deadlines for Returning Your Absentee Ballot
Your completed absentee ballot must be delivered no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. The U.S. Postal Service recommends absentee ballots be mailed one week before Election Day to arrive in time.
In-Person Absentee Voting at your Municipal Clerk's Office (Early Voting)
You can also vote absentee at your local municipal clerk's office. If you apply for an absentee ballot in your municipal clerk's office, or another designated location for in-person absentee voting, you will vote your ballot immediately in the clerk's office, seal your ballot in the proper envelope, and return it to a member of the clerk's staff. No ballots may be taken out of the clerk's office.
You will need to show your acceptable photo ID for voting when voting by in-person absentee ballot. More information about acceptable photo IDs can be found at www.bringit.wi.gov.
When can I Vote an In-Person Absentee Ballot?
Each city, village and town in Wisconsin is responsible for setting the dates and hours of in-person absentee voting for their municipality. To find the dates and hours for in-person absentee voting where you live, contact your municipal clerk.
Who is my Municipal Clerk?
The municipal clerk is the clerk for the City, Village or Town in Wisconsin where you reside. If you do not know who your municipal clerk is, or where the clerk's office is located, please use the MyVote Wisconsin website: myvote.wi.gov to locate your clerk's contact information. You can also find your clerk by searching a list of all Wisconsin Municipal Clerk Contact Information.
Early voting is no longer permitted on weekends.
Please check with your municipal clerk for office hours.
You can find your clerk at MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov by searching for your voter record or performing an address search. You can also find your clerk by searching through the list of all Wisconsin municipal clerks.
If you apply for an absentee ballot in your municipal clerk's office, vote your ballot immediately, seal your ballot in the proper envelope, and return it to a member of the clerk's staff. No ballots may be taken from the clerk's office.
Remember, you can only vote once!
Please note: In 2011 the Legislature passed Act 227, which prohibits a voter who has returned a completed absentee ballot from voting at the polling place on Election Day. Previously, voters who cast an absentee ballot and changed their minds could go to the polling place and vote on Election Day, and their absentee ballot would not be counted. This is no longer an option.
Instructions for Completing Absentee BallotYou can find detailed instructions here: Uniform Instructions for Absentee Voters.
If you do not know who your clerk is, or where the clerk's office is located, please use MyVote WI: myvote.wi.gov.
Wisconsin Photo ID for Voting
All Wisconsin citizens must present a photo ID to vote in person on election day, to vote early in person at the Clerk's office and (for most voters) to vote absentee by mail.
Click here for currently accepted Photo ID
All Wisconsin citizens must present a photo ID to vote in person on election day, to vote early in person at the Clerk's office and (for most voters) to vote absentee by mail.
Click here for currently accepted Photo ID
Do I need a photo ID if I vote absentee?
When you send your signed absentee ballot request, you must include a copy of your photo ID.
As with voting at the polls, the address on your ID DOES NOT have to be current, but you must be registered at your current address.
You can fill in a registration application and an absentee ballot request at the same time. In that case, you must provide a proof of residence (POR) for the new address. A utility bill, cell phone bill or bank statement are examples, but not the only, acceptable PORs.
You do not have to provide a photo id to vote with an absentee ballot if :
If you live in a nursing home or senior residential facility:
When you send your signed absentee ballot request, you must include a copy of your photo ID.
As with voting at the polls, the address on your ID DOES NOT have to be current, but you must be registered at your current address.
You can fill in a registration application and an absentee ballot request at the same time. In that case, you must provide a proof of residence (POR) for the new address. A utility bill, cell phone bill or bank statement are examples, but not the only, acceptable PORs.
You do not have to provide a photo id to vote with an absentee ballot if :
- If you’re in the military or live permanently overseas.
- Are classified as a confidential elector.
- Are indefinitely confined (you will indicate on your absentee ballot application form that you are indefinitely confined because of age, illness or disability)
If you live in a nursing home or senior residential facility:
- If your nursing home is visited by Special Voting Deputies (SVDs), you may instead have these two SVDs verify your identity by signing your absentee ballot envelope as witnesses.
- If your facility is not visited by SVDs you may ask an authorized representative of the facility to sign the absentee ballot envelope to verify your identity.
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