HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE
As of January 1, 2006, all municipalities in Wisconsin require voter registration prior to a person being allowed to vote.
The federal "Help American Vote Act of 2002" requires any person registering to vote to:
1) Supply his or her Wisconsin Department of Transportation - issued driver's license number. If the elector has not been issued a Wisconsin driver's license, he/she must provide the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number OR their Wisconsin state ID card number. If the elector does not have a current, valid Wisconsin driver's license, Wisconsin state ID card, or Social Security Number, the applicant may indicate this by filling in the appropriate circle on the registration form. (Box 2 on Form EB-131) THE REGISTRATION CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNTIL THE ELECTOR PROVIDES THIS INFORMATION.
If the voter has a current, valid Wisconsin driver's license but does not know the number and did not bring it to the polling place, poll workers should allow the voter to vote by provisional ballot. (Note: the voter CANNOT use the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number if he or she has been issued a Wisconsin driver's license). The provisional ballot will not be counted until the voter either:
a) brings his or her driver's license number to his or her polling place before the polls close at 8:00 pm on Election Day; or
b) transmits (via fax, email, telephone call or personal visit) his or her driver's license number to the municipal clerk before 4:00 pm on the day after the Election.
Anyone wishing to vote in the state of Wisconsin has three options to register:
1. BY MAIL: Download the Application for Voter Registration (EB131), complete the form and mail it into the municipal clerk's office. List of Wisconsin Municipal Clerks [alphabetical by county] The application must be postmarked no later than the 20th day (3rd Wednesday) before the election. (For the September Partisan Primary, that date is Wednesday, August 20, 2008, and for the November General Election that date is Wednesday, October 15, 2008.)
PLEASE NOTE: State and federal law now requires that any first-time voter submitting a registration application by mail provide a copy of an acceptable identifying document that provides proof of residence. (A "first-time voter" is an individual who has not voted in an election in Wisconsin.) Acceptable forms of proof of residence are outlined below. Please note that first-time voters registering by mail may not use a residential lease as proof of residence. The copy of the form of proof of residence must be included when submitting the registration application. If a copy of proof of residence is not included, the elector will be required to supply it before being issued a ballot at the polling place or before being issued an absentee ballot in the municipal clerk's office.
2. IN PERSON: Register in the municipal clerk's office up to 5:00 PM or the close of business whichever is later on the day before the election. (For the September Partisan Primary, that date is Monday, September 8, 2008 and for the November General Election that date is, Monday, November 3, 2008.) Note: After the BY MAIL deadline, an elector registering in person in the clerk's office is required to present acceptable proof of residence as outlined below.
3. AT THE POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY: If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must bring proof that you have lived at your present location for at least 10 days preceding the election. For purposes of voter registration, acceptable forms of proof of residence must include:
1. A current and complete name, including both the given and family name; and
2. A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality.
**Forms with an expiration date must be valid on Election Day.
PROOF OF RESIDENCE
The following constitute acceptable Proof-of-Residence if the document contains the information specified above:
1. A current and valid Wisconsin driver's license.
2. A current and valid Wisconsin identification card.
3. Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
4. Any identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business and bearing a photo of the card holder, but not including a business card.
5. A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
6. A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day (NOT for first-time voters registering by mail).
7. A university, college or technical institute fee card (must include photo).
8. A university, college or technical institute identification card (must include photo).
9. A gas, electric or telephone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
10. Bank statement.
11. Paycheck.
12. A check or other document issued by a unit of government.
HOW TO REGISTER AND VOTE ON ELECTION DAY
If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.
If the voter has a current, valid Wisconsin driver's license but does not know the number and did not bring it to the polling place, poll workers should allow the voter to vote by provisional ballot. (Note: the voter CANNOT use the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number if he or she has been issued a Wisconsin driver's license). The provisional ballot will not be counted until the voter either:
a) brings his or her driver's license number to his or her polling place before the polls close at 8:00 pm on Election Day; or
b) transmits (via fax, email, telephone call or personal visit) his or her driver's license number to the municipal clerk before 4:00 pm on the day after the Election.
If your name does not appear on the voter list at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application before you will be allowed to vote.
For purposes of voter registration, acceptable forms of proof of residence include:
1. A current and valid WI driver's license.
2. A current and valid Wisconsin identification card.
3. Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
4. Any identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business and bearing a photo of the card holder, but not including a business card.
5. A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.
6. A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day (NOT for first-time voters registering by mail).
7. A university, college or technical institute fee card (must include photo).
8. A university, college or technical institute identification card (must include photo).
9. A gas, electric or telephone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
10. Bank statement.
11. Pay Check.
12. A check or other document issued by unit of government.
Proof of residence does not include any piece of mail addressed to the voter.
If you cannot supply acceptable Proof-of-Residence, your registration form can be substantiated and signed by one other elector who resides in your municipality, corroborating your residency information. The corroborator must then provide acceptable Proof-of-Residence.
WHAT DOCUMENTS CAN BE USED FOR PROOF OF RESIDENCE?
Documents you can use as proof of residence include:
1. a current and valid Wisconsin driver's license.
2. a current and valid Wisconsin I.D. card.
3. any other official I.D. card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
4. any employer-issued photo I.D. card, issued in the normal course of business, but not including a business card.
5. a university, college or technical college fee card or I.D. card with your photo and current address. **
6. ** May be used even if the card does not contain the cardholder's address, if the educational institution provides a certified student list for use at the polling place
7. a utility bill (e.g., gas, electric, cable TV or telephone) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
8. a bank statement
9. a real estate (i.e., property) tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election
10. a current residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day (NOT for first-time voters registering by mail, however).
11. a pay check or a government check or other document issued by unit of government.
Whatever form of proof you supply must contain a complete name, including both the first and last name; and a current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality. Forms which have an expiration date must be valid on election day in order to constitute acceptable proof of residence at that election.
If you don't have written proof, bring a friend (with identification) who lives in the same municipality. This person can serve as a corroborator (witness) to verify your address. He or she does not need to be a registered voter but must provide proof of residence, which must be in the same municipality.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT
If you are not already registered, you will need to register to vote before an absentee ballot can be sent to you.
Request by Mail
Download the Application For Absentee Ballot (EB-121). Complete the form and mail it to your municipal clerk's office (for the correct address please refer to the Listing of Local Municipal Clerks). The application must be received by the clerk no later than 5:00 PM on the Thursday before the election in order for an absentee ballot to be mailed to you.
In-Person at your Municipal Clerk's Office
This can be done up until 5:00 PM on the day before the election.
If you apply for an absentee ballot in your municipal clerk's office, you must vote immediately, seal your ballot in the proper envelope, and return it to a member of the clerk's staff. No ballots may be taken from the clerk's office.
Deadline for Returning Ballot
The completed ballot must be received by the municipal clerk no later than the day of the election so that it can be delivered to the polling location by 8 PM.
If you do not know who your clerk is, or where their office is located, please refer to the Listing of all Wisconsin Municipal Clerks. Use the "Find" command on your Web Browser's "Edit" menu to search for a specific municipal clerk. This listing contains telephone and fax numbers as well as addresses
*Please note that there are exceptions for military voters. Please refer to the Miltary and Overseas Voting Manual for this rules.
