If There is Any Election that You Absolutely Must Participate In:
It’s This One! The Eyes of the Nation are Watching Wisconsin
It is not an exaggeration to say that if you are eligible to vote in Wisconsin, then tomorrow may be among the most important elections ever, in which you can cast a vote and make your voice really matter.
The New York Times, Washington Post and numerous other media outlets and political experts have all been reporting that the decision about who will be elected as the next Justice to the Wisconsin Supreme Court tomorrow will determine ideological control of our state’s highest court and with that issues such as the future of free and fair elections in one of the nation’s most closely contested “battleground” states in U.S. Presidential elections and all other statewide contests. That will have huge ramifications for 2024!
But there is so much more at stake as well. The Wisconsin Supreme Court will determine whether or not the ultra-partisan, gerrymandered state legislative districts (the most unfair and hyper partisan drawn districts devised in the country in 2011 and 2021-22) will stand as they are or, will be fairly adjudicated and possibly changed and made fair to more accurately reflect the will of the voters of Wisconsin. And the court will determine so many other issues that directly impact your everyday life including the right for women to be able to determine their own health care decisions and so many other matters that can shape and alter all of our lives.
How can you, your family, your friends and neighbors, and everyone you know NOT participate in this most consequential and pivotal state and national election?
And, in addition to the statewide Wisconsin Supreme Court election there may be – depending on where you are and vote – critical elections for local offices such as mayor, county executive, other judgeships, city council, county supervisor, school board and more. Your decision about who occupies these positions have a very real impact on your lives and on those of your family, friends and neighbors.
In short, you simply must and will vote tomorrow! There’s really no excuse not to.
If you haven't yet cast your vote via absentee ballot, then you must prepare now for how you will vote in-person at your polling place tomorrow.
Mail-in Absentee Ballot Return
If you still have an absentee ballot that was mailed to you and you have not returned it yet, be sure to personally hand return your completed ballot TODAY. Absolutely Do NOT mail it! All ballots need to be received no later than 8:00 PM tomorrow (Tuesday) on Election Day. Your clerk and myvote.wi.gov will have information about where you can take your ballot.
Don't forget: The ballot envelope needs a witness signature and the complete address of the witness, filled out by the witness.
You can track your ballot through the official ballot tracker on MyVote. Don't see that your ballot was received? Contact your clerk for further information.
In-Person Voting at your Polling Location on Election Day
If you are planning to vote in person at the polls, read the information below so you are prepared when you show up to vote at your polling location. Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 4th.
Polling Location
Polling places can change from election to election. To find out where to go to cast your ballot, visit the Find My Polling Place page on the MyVote Wisconsin website and type in your address.
Registration
You can register to vote on Election Day at your polling location. Being registered to vote means being registered at your current address. 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. You'll need to bring a proof of residence document to complete your registration (this document can be shown electronically - like on your phone or tablet).
Photo ID
You are required to show a photo ID before you vote. If you have a Wisconsin driver's license or a Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued ID card, then you’re all set. Selected other forms of ID work too, and it’s very important to check the official list of acceptable IDs at Bring It to The Ballot to make sure you have what you need.
What if you don't have an acceptable ID to vote tomorrow? You can ask for AND vote with a provisional ballot. But, for your ballot to be counted, you MUST either come back to your polling place with an acceptable form of ID before it closes at 8:00 PM on Election Day OR bring your ID to your municipal clerk's office by 4:00 PM the Friday after the election (Friday, April 7th). If you don't have an acceptable ID for voting and need help getting one, call or text the VoteRiders helpline 866-ID-2-VOTE for assistance.
Your Ballot
You will find local and state races on your ballot. This will include the Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice and may include City Council, Village President, Judges, Mayor, School Board, and other offices. (Find out what is on your ballot at MyVote). These offices and the people who serve in these roles have a direct impact on your life.
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. There will be Statewide Referenda on your ballot: There are three statewide referendum questions on the ballot on April 4th, two of which will determine new amendments to the Wisconsin Constitution and the other purely advisory. This article from The Wisconsin Examiner does a good job of explaining what each of these measures would do.
College Students voting in Wisconsin
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
Have questions or need some assistance?
Help is just a call, text, or email away.
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 any questions you have or to report problems.
Voters with disabilities have the right to have ready access to any polling place. This includes the right to use an accessible voting machine, getting assistance marking and returning an absentee ballot, and voting curbside at a polling location. Call the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline for assistance: 1-844-347-8683. Or email: info@disabilityvote.org. Additional online resources are also at the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition website.
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.
Please be sure that you vote tomorrow (or that you have voted earlier) so that that your voice will be heard, and your vote will be counted. Encourage anyone and everyone you know who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin to do so.
Or, urge them to register to vote at their polling place tomorrow and vote if they are not currently registered. Every single vote will matter and could determine the direction our state, and the nation will go in the months, years and decades ahead.
For free and fair elections and the preservation of democracy in our state and in the nation, On Wisconsin!
Forward,
Jay Heck
Common Cause Wisconsin Director
608/512-9363 (cell)
152 Johnson St, Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
www.commoncausewisconsin.org
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