As always, it's best to double check with your state for any recent changes to election rules: Wisconsin Election Website
COVID-19 info for Wisconsin
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019), Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Wisconsin voter registration
- In Person: The Friday before Election Day.
- By Mail: For the 2020 general election, postmarked 20 days before Election Day.
- Online: For the 2020 general election, received 20 days before Election Day.
Individuals may register to vote in person at your polling place on Election Day. All individuals must provide both a proof of residency document and proof of identification to register on election Day.
- To register in Wisconsin you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Wisconsin for at least 10 days
- be 18 years old
- not have been convicted of treason, felony or bribery, or if you have, your civil rights have been restored
- not be incapable of understanding the objective of the elective process or under guardianship
- Use our Register to Vote Tool to fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Sign and date your form. This is very important!
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed form to the address we provide.
- Make sure you register before the voter registration deadline.
- If you have been convicted of a felony and have questions about whether you can register to vote, visit Restore Your Vote to determine your eligibility.
Wisconsin absentee ballots
- In Person: Received 5 days before Election Day.
- By Mail: Received 5 days before Election Day.
- Online: Received 5 days before Election Day.
- Received by 8pm on Election Day.
- Any registered Wisconsin voter may apply for an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- When voting by mail, you must submit a copy of a valid photo ID with your vote by mail application (unless a copy of your ID is already on file). A list of valid IDs is available below.
- Use our Absentee Ballot Tool to prepare your application.
- Sign and date the form. This is very important!
- Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address for you.
- All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. Your Local Election Official will also let you fax or email the application.
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
- Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.
- Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
- Sign and date where indicated.
- Provide a copy of a valid photo ID, if you are required to do so
- Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
- Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.
Wisconsin Early Voting
- At least 14 days before the election (in-person absentee voting). Varies by municipality. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information.
- As late as 2 days before the election (in-person absentee voting). Varies by municipality. Voters should contact their county elections office for additional information.
Wisconsin voter ID
If you are voting in person in Wisconsin, you must present valid photo ID when you vote. The following forms of ID are acceptable for voting purposes and can be unexpired or expired after the date of the most recent general election:
- A Wisconsin driver license or identification card
- Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service
- A U.S. passport
- An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
- A photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university, college or technical college that contains date of issuance, signature of student, and an expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance. (Also, the university, college, or technical college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves enrollment.)
These photo IDs are also acceptable for voting purposes, but must be unexpired:
- A certificate of naturalization that was issued not earlier than two years before the date of Election Day at which it is presented
- A veteran's photo identification card issued by the Veterans Health Administration
- A driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days)
- An identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days)
- A temporary identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT through the Identification Petition Process (IDPP) (valid for 180 days)
- A citation or notice of intent to revoke or suspend a Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license that is dated within 60 days of the date of the election.
When voting by mail, you must submit a copy of a valid photo ID with your vote by mail application (unless a copy of your ID is already on file). The following forms of ID are acceptable for voting purposes and can be unexpired or expired after the date of the most recent general election:
- A Wisconsin driver license or identification card
- Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service
- A U.S. passport
- An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
- A photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university, college or technical college that contains date of issuance, signature of student, and an expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance. (Also, the university, college, or technical college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves enrollment.)
These photo IDs are also acceptable for voting purposes, but must be unexpired:
- A certificate of naturalization that was issued not earlier than two years before the date of Election Day at which it is presented
- A veteran's photo identification card issued by the Veterans Health Administration
- A driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days)
- An identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days)
- A temporary identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT through the Identification Petition Process (IDPP) (valid for 180 days)
- A citation or notice of intent to revoke or suspend a Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license that is dated within 60 days of the date of the election.
Offsite links
- State Election Website
- Local Election Office: This is the government office responsible for running elections in your region. Theses are the best people to contact if you have any questions at all about voting in your state.
- Find your polling place
- Absentee ballot tracker tool
- Learn more about absentee voting
- Learn more about early voting
- Learn more about voter ID
- State Election Code