Wisconsin Voting Requirements & Information

U.S. Vote Foundation’s Wisconsin Voting Requirements and Information directory informs you of Wisconsin voting rules and options. It focuses on Wisconsin-specific voting guidelines and information for all voters, including domestic, overseas, and military voters. Here you can find out about Wisconsin voter eligibility, voter ID requirements, registration, absentee and early voting options, ways to transmit voting documents and links to specific-Wisconsin voting tools. It's an all-in-one Wisconsin voting resource.

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Wisconsin Federal and State Elections

Tue Apr 2, 2024 - Wisconsin Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Wed Mar 13, 2024 5:00PM CDT
  • In-Person Request by
    Fri Mar 29, 2024 5:00PM CDT
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue Apr 2, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:00PM CDT

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Postmarked by
    Tue Apr 2, 2024
  • Received by
    Tue Apr 2, 2024 8:00PM CDT

Early Voting Available

None on Record

Tue Aug 13, 2024 - Wisconsin State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

  • Received by
    Wed Jul 24, 2024 5:00PM CDT
  • In-Person Request by
    Fri Aug 9, 2024 5:00PM CDT
  • Election Day Registration & Voting
    Tue Aug 13, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Thu Aug 8, 2024 5:00PM CDT

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Postmarked by
    Tue Aug 13, 2024
  • Received by
    Tue Aug 13, 2024 8:00PM CDT

Early Voting Available

From {from_datetime} to {to_datetime}

Contact your local election office to confirm dates for early voting.

General Information

Registration

You can register to vote or update your registration information:

  • by mail
  • in person at your elections office
  • at the polls on Election Day
  • at some public assistance offices and motor vehicle offices
  • online

You must have resided in Wisconsin at least 28 days prior to the election in which you intend to vote.

Election Day Voting

Polling places are open from 7am to 8pm on Election Day.

Find my polling place

Early Voting

In-person absentee voting runs for two weeks before Election Day, ending on the Friday before the election. Please check with your municipal clerk for regular office hours.

Absentee Voting

Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot and vote by mail. You will need a witness to verify that you filled out your own ballot and to sign your absentee ballot return envelope. Your witness can be anyone 18 years or older. Absentee ballots may be returned by mail. The July 2022 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling did not limit assistance in returning ballots by mail.

If you opt to return your absentee ballot in person to a drop box, please visit your local election office to place the ballot in the receptacle if available during regular office hours. You must be the one to return your own ballot in person. Drop boxes are now only available inside election offices.

Please visit the US Vote Disability Voting Guide to see accommodations for the registration and voting process.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to vote in Wisconsin if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen
  • Are a resident of Wisconsin
  • Live in the precinct where you vote for at least 28 days prior to the election
  • are 17 years of age and will be 18 by the next election

You are NOT eligible to vote in Wisconsin if:

  • You are currently serving a sentence including incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision for a felony conviction
  • You have placed a bet or wager on the outcome of the election
  • You were disqualified from voting due to a court order

Restorative Requirements

  • If you have completed a felony sentence, including any term of incarceration, parole, supervision, period of probation, or you have been pardoned, then you are immediately eligible to register to vote

You are able to pre-register:

  • are 17 years of age and will be 18 by the next election

If you are a student, you are eligible to vote in Wisconsin if:

  • You reside in Wisconsin but are attending college in another state
  • You reside in another state but attend college in Wisconsin
  • You provide a valid photo student ID from a college/university in Wisconsin at the polls

Your student ID card must include your name, signature, photo, and issue and expiration dates. The issue date cannot be more than two years from the expiration date.

Identification Requirements

Voter Registration

To register to vote in Wisconsin, you should provide a current and valid proof of residence including:

  • Your Wisconsin Driver's License or State non-driver ID Number

If you do not have these IDs, you may provide other proof of residence that has your name and current address such as:

  • Valid Student ID accompanied by tuition receipt
  • Valid Student ID accompanied by on-campus housing listing that denotes US Citizenship
  • Property Tax Bill or Receipt dated within the current year or within a year prior to the election date
  • Utility Bill not older than 90 days
  • Letter from a homeless organization verifying your residence location for purposes of voter registration
  • Lease (exception: not valid for registration by mail)
  • Valid Employee ID with photo
  • Government Issued Document that shows your current name and address
  • Valid Wisconsin issued ID
  • Valid Wisconsin Driver's License except one issued to an individual that is not a United States citizen
  • Bank Statement, Paycheck or Government Check
  • Verification that you are a Resident of a Group Residential Facility
  • Official Notice from the Social Security Administration identifying your Social Security Number
  • Public Assistance ID
  • Medicare or Medicaid Card issued by the government
  • Hunting or Fishing ID
  • Valid Tribal ID
  • Proof of Wisconsin student loan and college tuition
  • Valid Wisconsin Vehicle Registration

Contact your municipal clerk if you are unsure whether your proof of residence fits requirements https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Municipal-Clerk

Voting In-Person

In Wisconsin, you need to show id to vote. The following photo ids can be used even if they expired after the most recent general election (Nov., 3, 2020):

  • Valid Wisconsin Driver's License
  • Valid US Passport
  • Valid ID Issued by the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles, Transportation, Highway Safety, etc.
  • Valid Tribal ID
  • Valid Military ID
  • Valid Student ID

Student IDs must be issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college that contains date of issuance, signature of student, and an expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance. If expired, the student ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves current enrollment.

If you do not have an ID from the above list, you must show an unexpired photo id from this list:

  • Veteran's ID
  • ID Issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
  • Driving Receipt Issued by DOT not more than 45 Days before Election
  • Certificate of Naturalization Dated no earlier than two years prior to the Date of the Election

You may use an ID card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days) or a temporary ID card from the Identification Petition Process (valid for 60 days). If you need help getting ID, go to www.voteriders.org.

  • When applying for an absentee ballot, include a copy of your photo ID.

You will not need photo ID to vote absentee if you are in the military living permanently overseas or you are a confidential elector. If you are indefinitely confined or live in a nursing home/care facility, you can use a witness signature instead of providing ID when you apply for an absentee ballot.

Witness / Notarization Requirements

An absentee ballot must include ONLY ONE of the following in order to be counted:

  • One Witness Signature

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Domestic Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online
Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

State Elections Website

https://elections.wi.gov/

Can I View my Sample Ballot?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Whats-On-My-Ballot

Where is my Polling Place?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Find-My-Polling-Place

Where is my Ballot?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Track-My-Ballot

Can I Register to Vote Online?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Register-To-Vote

Am I Registered?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Voter-Info

Overseas / Military Voter Information

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Military-Overseas-Voters

State Voter Registration FAQ

https://elections.wi.gov/faq
REGISTER TO VOTE REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT

Upcoming Election Dates & Deadlines

Wisconsin Federal and State Elections

Tue Apr 2, 2024 - Wisconsin Presidential Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Postmarked by
Wed Mar 13, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:00PM CDT

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Apr 2, 2024 8:00PM CDT
  • Post Received by
    Tue Apr 2, 2024 8:00PM CDT

Tue Aug 13, 2024 - Wisconsin State Primary

Voter Registration Deadline

Postmarked by
Wed Jul 24, 2024

Absentee Ballot Request Deadline

Received by
Thu Aug 8, 2024 5:00PM CDT

Absentee Ballot Return Deadline

  • Received by
    Tue Aug 13, 2024 8:00PM CDT
  • Post Received by
    Tue Aug 13, 2024 8:00PM CDT

Eligibility Requirements

Overseas Voters

U.S. citizens living abroad have the right to vote as absentee voters, provided they are eligible to vote in their state. If you are living outside of the U.S. permanently, indefinitely, or temporarily, your voting rights stay with you, even if you never voted when you lived in the U.S. To vote from overseas:

  • Complete and send an overseas voter registration/ballot request form to your election office in the U.S. This is one specific form that will register you as an overseas voter and request your absentee ballot – simultaneously.

Many states allow children who were born overseas, but never lived in the U.S., to use their U.S. parents’ last residence address to register.

Military Voters

Service members and their eligible family members living outside their voting jurisdiction (within or outside the U.S.) are able to vote as absentee voters.

  • If you are a service member, or an eligible family member, there is a single form to file for both voter registration and ballot request. It is often called the “Federal Post Card Application” or the FPCA form. This form must be re-filed with your election office each time you change location.

To vote as a service member or eligible family member:

  • Complete and send a voter registration/ballot request form “FPCA” to your election office in the U.S. It is the same form in all states.

Identification Requirements

Voting Overseas

U.S. citizens living overseas may register and request a ballot using the overseas voter registration/ballot request form. You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Your Wisconsin Driver's License Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Voting Military

Service members and their dependents may register and request a ballot using the federal voter registration/ballot request form ("FPCA"). You will have the following identification options when completing the form:

  • U.S. State or Territory or District Issued ID
  • Option to Indicate that you do not have the Requested ID
  • Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
  • Your Wisconsin Driver's License Number

Your state does not require an ID to be provided in order to register your ballot.

Witness / Notarization Requirements

An overseas absentee ballot requires the following to be counted:

  • Mark overseas ballot with witness

An overseas voter's witness does not need to be a U.S. Citizen.

A military absentee ballot requires the following to be counted:

  • Mark overseas ballot with witness

An military voter's witness does not need to be a U.S. Citizen.

Voter Materials Transmission Options

Overseas Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online
Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

Military Voter

In-Person

Mail

Fax

Email

Online
Voter Registration
Absentee Ballot Request
Blank Ballot To Voter
Voted-Absentee Ballot Return

State Lookup Tools – Am I Registered?

State Elections Website

https://elections.wi.gov/

Can I View my Sample Ballot?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Whats-On-My-Ballot

Where is my Polling Place?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Find-My-Polling-Place

Where is my Ballot?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Track-My-Ballot

Can I Register to Vote Online?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Register-To-Vote

Am I Registered?

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Voter-Info

Overseas / Military Voter Information

https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Military-Overseas-Voters

State Voter Registration FAQ

https://elections.wi.gov/faq
REGISTER TO VOTE REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT