Upcoming Elections
2010 General Election: November 2, 2010
Polling Place Hours
7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Click here to download a Wisconsin Frequently Asked Questions document created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Voter Registration Information
Click here for a Wisconsin Voter Registration Guide created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
Registration Deadlines
By Mail: the application must be postmarked no later than the 3rd Wednesday before the election (October 13, 2010).
In Person at the Municipal Clerk's Office: by 5 p.m. on the day before the election (November 1, 2010).
Identification Required for Registration
Yes. Proof of residence is required of (a) first time voters registering by mail, (b) individuals who register in person after the registration cut-off date, and (c) individuals who register to vote on Election Day. Proof of residence is not required if the individual registers in person before the registration cutoff date. Acceptable forms of identification include:
- a current and valid Wisconsin driver's license;
- a current and valid Wisconsin I.D. card;
- an official I.D. card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit;
- an employer-issued photo I.D. card, issued in the normal course of business, but not a business card;
- a university, college or technical college fee card or I.D. card with photo, full name, and current address;
- a utility bill for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day;
- a bank statement;
- a real estate (i.e., property) tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the
- date of the election;
- for anyone other than a first time voter, a current residential lease which is effective for a
- period that includes election day; or
- a pay check or a government check or other document issued by a unit of government.
The proof of residence provided must contain the applicant's full name, complete residential address, and state the municipality to which the applicant belongs. Mail addressed to the applicant cannot be considered proof of residence. If an applicant cannot provide proof of residence, an applicant's residency information can be corroborated by another elector residing in the same municipality. The corroborator must sign the applicant's registration form and provide acceptable proof of his own residence.
Furthermore, federal law requires that an applicant supply a driver's license number or the last 4 digits of his social security number in order to register to vote. Such information may be provided on the Application for Voter Registration Form (Form EB-131). Any form lacking this information cannot be processed until such information is provided
How to Check Registration
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Check the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Elections Division website.
Voting Information
Identification Required to Vote
An individual must show proof of residence at the poll prior to voting if he (a) is a first time voter who registered by mail but did not provide proof of residence when submitting the application, (b) registered in person after the registration cut-off date, or (c) registered at the polling place on Election Day. For acceptable forms of proof of residence, please see above.
A first time voter who registers by mail but does not provide proof of residence with his registration form and does not bring proof of residence to the polling place may be entitled to vote by provisional ballot upon execution of an affirmation that the individual is a qualified elector of the district and is eligible to vote in that election. The provisional ballot will not be counted unless the voter provides proof of residence no later than 4 p.m. on the day after the election. Provisional ballots are not given to individuals attempting to register on Election Day who do not provide proof of residence or a corroborator.
How to Find Your Polling Place
Call 1-866-OUR-VOTE
Check the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board Elections Division website.
Absentee Voting
Voters must request an absentee ballot in writing to the municipal clerk. The voter may either apply using the Application for Absentee Ballot form or submit a written request, as long as the voter signs the request and the request includes the following information: name; residential address; mailing address if any; statement of the elections for which the voter desires an absentee ballot; an indication of status as a military voter, if applicable; declaration that he/she meets the voting requirements; signature; date.
Rules and Deadlines:
The deadline to submit an absentee ballot application for is 5:00 p.m. on the 5th day before the election, which is Thursday, October 28, 2010 for the November 2010 election. Exceptions to this deadline may be had in the following instances: (a) individuals applying in person at the clerks office (deadline: 5:00 p.m. the day before the election); (b) military and those indefinitely confined (deadline: 5:00 p.m. the 4th day preceding the election); (c) hospitalized and sequestered jurors (deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Election Day); and (d) for September and November elections - military personnel away from their primary residence (deadline: 5:00 p.m. on Election Day). A municipality may elect to designate a site other then the office of the municipal clerk where voters may request and vote absentee ballots.
Voters can still request absentee ballots in person at the municipal clerk's office until 5:00 pm the day before the election. See http://elections.state.wi.us/faq_que_list.asp?fid=8&locid=47
Early Voting
Through absentee voting.
Information For People who have Moved or Changed Addresses
Moves Within a Municipality or Between Municipalities Within the State:
- Electors must cancel their registration from a previous residence upon application for registration at a new address. This may be done on Election Day.
Changing Names:
- A voter who has changed his or her name but resides at the same address and has not notified the municipal clerk must notify the inspector before actually voting.
Name Changes and Moving:
- If an elector has changed both his or her name and address, he or she must complete a registration form at the polling place or other registration location and present acceptable proof of residence.
Information for People with Felony Convictions
If you have been convicted of a felony, treason or bribery, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE AFTER COMPLETING YOUR SENTENCE, including any period of probation or parole, and registering to vote.
For more information, visit the Government Accountability Board website, or click here to download a Wisconsin Election Protection Manual created by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and its pro bono law firm partners.
