Early Voting (In-Person Absentee) Starts Today!
Two weeks from today is Election Day - November 8th! However, you can cast your ballot for the November election now with early voting options by mail and in-person. Choose the option best for you and be sure you have a plan to vote. Then, help other voters to do the same. It is not an exaggeration to say that this election is one of the most important and consequential in our lifetime. Elections in Wisconsin are almost always closely contested and every vote matters!
Make sure you are registered to vote at your current address
Go to MyVote.wi.gov, and enter your name and date of birth to check your voter registration status. You need to have lived at your current address for at least 28 days prior to Election Day in order to register to vote in that election district or ward.
If you find out that you are not already registered to vote at your current residence, you can still register:
→ In your Municipal Clerk’s Office. You can register in-person in your municipal clerk’s office up until the close of business on the Friday before the election in which you are planning to vote. For the Fall election, the last day to register in your clerk's office is next Friday, November 4th. You'll need to bring a proof of residence document to complete your registration (this document can be shown electronically). You can find your clerk's office information here.
→ At the Polls on Election Day. If you're unable to register before the election, you can still register at your polling place on Election Day - November 8th. You will need to present a proof of residence document when registering (again, this document can be shown electronically). If your Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID card has your current address, then that’s all you need.
Examples of proof of residence documents are here.
Casting an absentee ballot / early voting
Municipalities can begin In Person Absentee Voting (aka, “early voting”) today, October 25th, and must conclude by November 6th. To find out where and when you can cast an early, in-person absentee ballot in your city/town/village, contact your local municipal clerk’s office. In-person early voting dates and times vary by municipality, and you can see your options at MyVote by clicking on "Vote Absentee" and filling in your information. Then click on the "Find my local absentee options" button to see your in-person early voting options.
If you requested a mailed absentee ballot, return it as soon as possible. Track your ballot through the official ballot tracker on MyVote. You can drop the completed ballot off at your clerk's office. If you still need to return your ballot by mail, don't wait and do it today.
If you haven't requested your absentee ballot by mail, it's best to choose another option to cast your ballot (in-person early vote or vote on Election Day). Your ballot needs to be returned to the clerk by Election Day, November 8. Don't risk not having your ballot not counted because it isn't back in time by making a late request.
Find more information about voting by mailed absentee ballot and ballot return from Common Cause WI here.
Finally, all you wanted to know about elections and voting in Wisconsin can be found here in these short videos created by the Wisconsin Election Commission.
And don't forget your photo ID
If you already have a Wisconsin driver's license or state ID card, then you're "ID ready." Just remember to bring it with you when you head to your polling place!
Check which other IDs are valid to use to vote at the official site: Bring It to the Ballot. Here you can also learn how to obtain a free state ID card to vote and review other ID information. Need help? If you or someone you know needs help getting a DMV-isssued Wisconsin ID, contact our partners online at VoteRiders or at 844-338-8743 (call or text).
Are you a college student voting in Wisconsin? Or do you know a student who wants to vote in Wisconsin?
Here is important information from the Common Cause Wisconsin website to share:
Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin
Most students already have a Wisconsin driver's license or one of the other acceptable forms of photo ID for voting.
Students who do not have one of the other forms of acceptable ID for voting should look up their college/university on the appropriate list linked below to see if their student ID can be used as a photo ID to vote or if their school offers a special photo ID card for voting:
University of WI - 4-Year Schools
University of WI - 2-Year Schools
WI Private Universities and Colleges
WI Technical and Community Colleges
Information on the candidates and your ballot
Get to know who wants to represent you and which candidate best represents your values before you vote. Find candidate and ballot information from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin at Vote411. Wisconsin Public Broadcasting Systems also has candidate information at Wisconsin Vote. And take a look at your official ballot through MyVote before you cast your ballot.
Questions or Problems? There's help.
Registering to vote, having the correct ID, finding your polling place...None of these things have to be scary, but they can be overwhelming. Help is just a call or text away.
Call or text the WI Voter Helpline at 608-285-2141 and you will be connected to a nonpartisan person who can help answer all your questions. You can also request services such as getting assistance at the DMV to get an ID to vote or having someone witness your absentee ballot.
Voters with disabilities have the right to an accessible polling place. This includes the right to use an accessible voting machine, to have assistance marking a ballot, and to vote curbside. Call the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline for assistance: 1-844-347-8683.
If you experience problems at the polls or have questions, there is help. Call Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) for support from nonpartisan election protection volunteers with questions or to report problems.
Make a plan and then go vote! There is still time to prepare and be voter ready however you choose to vote in this Election. Do your part to preserve democracy and ensure that your voice and vote matters and is heard and counted. Vote!
608/512-9363 (cell)
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
www.commoncausewisconsin.org
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