How to vote by mail or vote early in Wisconsin
How to vote by mail or vote early in Wisconsin
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.
Voting by Mail
Step 1: Make sure you are registered and your registration is up to date
You can begin the registration process online here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/RegisterToVote
You can update your name and address here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/UpdateMyNameOrAddress
You must already be registered to receive a Wisconsin absentee ballot by mail.
IMPORTANT: Wisconsin has been removing people from the voter rolls consistently for the last several years. Please make sure you are registered ASAP, whether you intend to vote absentee or not. The deadline to register to vote for the General Election is October 14th, though you can register in person at a polling place on election day.
Step 2: Apply for an absentee ballot
Once you are registered or have confirmed your registration, you have 2 options for applying for your Wisconsin absentee ballot to be sent to you:
1. Use the online form located here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/VoteAbsentee
2. Complete, print, and sign (by hand, no digital signatures!) this form: https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2020-07/EL-121%20Application%20for%20Absentee%20Ballot%20%282020-06%29-Fillable_0.pdf
Once you've completed your Wisconsin mail-in ballot request form, you have 2 options for returning it to your municipal clerk’s office:
Mail it
Drop it off in person
You can search by your address to find your clerk here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/MyMunicipalClerk.
You can also find your municipal clerk’s address, fax number, email, and office location here, though you will have to look through a list of 1,850 clerks: https://elections.wi.gov/clerks/directory
You must provide a copy of your Wisconsin approved voter ID in order to receive your ballot. Here is a list of approved voter IDs: https://bringit.wi.gov/do-i-have-right-photo-id
Wisconsin voter ID laws are very strict. Make sure you have the right ID now.
Your absentee ballot application must be received (not just postmarked!) by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 PM on Thursday, October 30th.
Step 3: Vote and return your ballot
Carefully read and follow the instructions for completing the ballot. Mistakes may prevent your votes from being counted. You can read full instructions for voting your Wisconsin absentee ballot here: https://elections.wi.gov/forms/voters-uniform-instructions
Wisconsin absentee ballots must be voted in the presence of one adult witness.
The witness cannot be a candidate for the election.
The witness must verify that the individual completed the absentee ballot but should not view the voter’s choices.
The witness must sign the certificate and provide their address.
If the signature of the voter and the signature and address of a witness are not provided, the ballot will not be counted.
Complete (or verify, if clerk has provided) your voter information section on the absentee certificate envelope.
If you have moved from the address listed on the certificate envelope, contact your municipal clerk. Do not cross out the address.
Sign the certificate and ensure that your witness has provided all their required information.
Absentee ballots must be RECEIVED (not just postmarked) in time for your clerk to take it to a polling place by 8:00 PM on November 3rd. SO SEND IT EARLY. Get it there by November 2nd at the absolute LATEST.
You have 2 options for returning your Wisconsin absentee ballot:
Mail it to your municipal clerk’s office. You can search by your address to find your clerk here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/MyMunicipalClerk
Drop it off in person at your municipal clerk’s office by close of business on November 2nd. Check with your municipal clerk’s office to confirm how late they are open. You can search by your address to find your clerk here:
Early voting
You can also vote early, in person, at your municipal clerk’s office.
Each city, village and town in Wisconsin is responsible for setting the dates and hours of in-person absentee voting for their municipality
In-person absentee voting cannot occur more than two weeks before an election, but will vary from place to place
To find the dates and hours for in-person absentee voting where you live, contact your municipal clerk. You can search by your address to find your clerk here: myvote.wi.gov
You will need to bring acceptable voter ID. You can find a list of approved Wisconsin voter IDs here: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/MyMunicipalClerk
For more information on voting in Wisconsin, including voter registration and deadlines, visit:
