Wisconsin Voting Guide

In Wisconsin, you must register to vote. If you miss the advance deadline, you can still register at your polling place on Election Day. To be eligible to vote, you need to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and have lived at your current address for at least 28 days before the election.

If you have questions about your voting rights or believe they have been violated, a civil rights attorney can explain how Wisconsin law applies to your situation.

Voting in Wisconsin

Wisconsin voters can choose their representatives in several types of elections. The state holds general, primary, special, and local elections, as well as statewide contests for offices like governor or state supreme court justices. Elections include:

• General elections (this includes presidential elections every four years)
• Statewide elections (includes statewide offices, like governor or state supreme court justices)
• Primary elections (where voters select candidates to represent a political party in a future election)
• Special elections
• Local elections (like Board of Education elections for members)

You must be a registered voter to vote in any election.

Your Rights as a Voter in Wisconsin

Wisconsin law protects your rights at the polls. As a voter, you have the following rights:

• You can cast your ballot in a private voting booth, free from pressure or observation. You may be accompanied by an assistant you choose.
• You can receive help marking a ballot from a person of your choosing if a disability or reading difficulty makes it hard to vote unassisted. You can’t be assisted by your employer, an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of a labor union that represents you.
• If you cannot show the required photo identification or proof of residence, you can cast a provisional ballot. Your vote will count if you provide the missing document before the polls close on Election Day or to your municipal clerk by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election. Wisconsin does not have a separate “voter ID” card.
• If your eligibility is challenged at the polls, you’ll be asked questions under oath. If accepted, you cast a regular ballot marked as challenged.
• If you believe something unlawful is happening at your polling place, report it to the chief election inspector on site, your municipal clerk, or the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which maintains a toll-free line for reporting suspected violations.

These nonpartisan rights apply to all voters, no matter your party or background.

Can I Vote in Wisconsin?

You are eligible to vote in Wisconsin if you meet all of the following requirements:

• Be 18 years old
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Have lived at your current home for at least 28 days before the election

You cannot vote in Wisconsin if you are:

• Convicted of a felony, treason, or bribery and still serving any part of that sentence, including incarceration, parole, extended supervision, or probation (voting rights are automatically restored once the full sentence is completed without a pardon)
• Incompetent to vote as determined by a circuit court judge
• Accused of betting on the election

You can review requirements on the Wisconsin MyVote website.

Where Do I Vote?

Your physical address determines your polling place for in-person and absentee voting. You can check the Wisconsin MyVote website for more information on your specific polling place.

FIND OUT WHERE TO VOTE

When is Wisconsin’s voter registration deadline?

In Wisconsin, you can register at the polls on Election Day. Otherwise, registration deadlines are as follows:

• Online: 20 days before the election
• In-Person: close of business (or 5:00 pm, if later) on the Friday before the election at the clerk’s office or the polling place on Election Day
• By Mail: 20 days before the election

Again, you can register at the polls on Election Day.

How do I vote by absentee ballot in Wisconsin?

You can vote by absentee ballot in Wisconsin by mail or in person at your local municipal clerk’s office. You can request an absentee ballot through MyVoteWisconsin.

If voting via absentee ballot, ensure you and your ballot witness complete all parts, as clerks can no longer fill in missing ballot-witness information.

Request your absentee ballot by 5:00 pm on the Thursday before the election. If returned by mail, your completed ballot must reach your clerk by 8:00 pm on Election Day. You can also return it in person to the clerk’s office by the Sunday before the election or use a secure ballot drop box if available in your area.

Unless you qualify for an exception due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, you must include a copy of an acceptable photo ID with your absentee ballot application. Wisconsin state law provides detailed voting procedures. Military and overseas voters may register to vote absentee via the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA).

How do I return my absentee ballot in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin law gives you a few ways to return a completed absentee ballot:

• By mail: Your ballot must arrive at your municipal clerk’s office by 8:00 pm on Election Day. Wisconsin does not count ballots based on postmark, so mail early if you are close to the deadline.
• In person: You can return it to your municipal clerk‘s office by the Sunday before the election. You can also drop it at your polling place on Election Day.
• At a secure drop box, if your municipality offers one: Under current law, municipal clerks may provide secure drop boxes, but they are not required to. Check with your local clerk to see if a drop box is available in your area.
• By an agent, if you have a disability: Only you or your municipal clerk may handle your ballot’s return. However, a federal court held in Carey v. Wisconsin Elections Commission that this restriction is preempted by the federal Voting Rights Act for voters with disabilities, who may ask a person of their choosing to help return their ballot.

If you register at the polls and don’t have a valid ID, you can vote with a provisional ballot. You must provide your ID to election officials at the polls or to your municipal clerk by 4:00 pm the Friday after Election Day.

What do I need to bring to the polls in Wisconsin?

Registered voters voting in person must provide photo identification at their polling location. Acceptable documents include, but are not limited to, these photo IDs:

• Wisconsin driver’s license
• Nondriver’s ID issued by the Wisconsin DMV
• U.S. Passport
• Military ID
• Certificate of Naturalization (no more than two years old)
• Tribal identification issued by a Wisconsin Native American tribe

Two groups of Wisconsin voters do not have to show a photo ID at the polls. If you meet the inclusion criteria for either group, you likely do not have to show a photo ID at the polls.

• Survivors of the following who have a confidential listing
  • Domestic abuse
  • Stalking
  • Sexual assault
• Individuals who have religious objections to having their photo taken

If you register at the polls and do not have a valid ID, you can vote via provisional ballot. You’ll need to provide your ID to election officials at the polls or your municipal clerk by 4:00 on the Friday after Election Day.

Special Accommodations for Wisconsin Voters

Wisconsin residents with disabilities enjoy the same voter rights as their non-disabled peers.

Permanent Absentee Voter Status

Voters indefinitely confined by the following may request permanent absentee voter status:

• Illness
• Disability
• Infirmity
• Age

This includes individuals residing in elder care, assisted living, and nursing home facilities.

You can have an assistant in the voting booth if you need help marking your ballot. Your employer or union representative can’t assist you in the voting booth on Election Day.

Accessible Voting Machines

All Wisconsin polling places have accessible voting machines available on Election Day. You may request help with these machines, but your assistant cannot help you vote.

Illegal Activity at the Polls

If you see or experience anything that seems illegal at the polls, report it to a poll worker. You can also file a complaint about an election official.

Report complaints to the Wisconsin Elections Commission if you:

• Witnessed a crime such as voter fraud or intimidation
• Believe an election official broke the law or abused their discretion
• Experienced a violation of the Help America Vote Act

Some common examples of illegal activity at Wisconsin polling places include:

• Electioneering: Wisconsin law bars any activity meant to influence voters on public property within 100 feet of a polling place entrance while polls are open. This includes wearing or displaying campaign clothing, buttons, hats, signs, or literature with a candidate’s name or slogan. If a poll worker notices this, they may ask the person to cover or remove the item, or to leave until they comply.
• Unregistered or disruptive observers: Wisconsin law allows members of the public to watch the voting process. They’re required to sign the election observer log with their name, address, and any organization they represent, show photo ID, and wear an “Election Observer” badge. The law also states that observers should stay in a designated area, oftentimes within three to eight feet from the check-in table. They cannot interact directly with voters or view confidential registration information. Anyone who tries to observe without following these steps, or who stands close enough to intimidate voters, is breaking the law.
• Voter intimidation: This includes actions like aggressively questioning voters, blocking the entrance to a polling place, or displaying a firearm in a way that threatens voters or election workers.

Voting shouldn’t be difficult. Report anyone who tries to influence your vote or intimidate you.

Get Legal Help Voting in Wisconsin

U.S. Citizens who meet the voting criteria have an unequivocal right to do so. If you experience a violation of your voting rights, a civil rights attorney can help. Civil rights attorneys are experts in voting rights law and give you sound legal advice. Speak to an experienced Wisconsin civil rights attorney.

Additional Information for Wisconsin Voters

Wisconsin Secretary of State

The Office of the Secretary of State

P.O. Box 7848

Madison, WI 53707 – 7848

Phone: 608-266-8888, then press 4 

Fax: n/a 

Email: statesec@wi.gov

Web: https://sos.wi.gov/