Q&A: How To Vote By Mail In Wisconsin For April 7 Election

State election officials — as well as party organizations, advocacy groups and politicians — are urging Wisconsin residents to vote by mail for the April 7 presidential primary and state Supreme Court election in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are many reasons officials are calling for absentee voting.

Bustling Election Day polling places would likely violate a new order from the state limiting gatherings to 50 people. Election officials are also navigating the closure of a number of in-person early voting sites, like libraries, and raising concerns about a potential shortage of poll workers on Election Day. Many volunteers tend to be older and at higher risk of the new coronavirus.

So, here’s what you need to know about absentee voting by mail:

Can anyone in Wisconsin vote by mail?

Yes, anyone who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin can vote by mail. You don’t need any reason or excuse to do so, according to the state Elections Commission.

I’m not registered to vote yet in Wisconsin. Can I do that without leaving my house and also request a mail-in ballot?

Yes. You can register to vote by going online at myvote.wi.gov up to 20 days before an election. That means the deadline for online registration is this Wednesday if you want to vote in the April 7 election.

To register online, you will need to provide your name, date of birth, driver’s license or state ID number, and an address that matches what is on file with the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles. If your address with the DMV isn’t up-to-date, you can also update that online.

You can also register by mail up to 20 days before an election, so your mailed application would need to be postmarked by Wednesday. You will need to download this form and mail it to your local clerk’s office along with a proof or residence document. You can find your local clerk’s address on this website.

I’m already registered to vote in Wisconsin and all my information is up-to-date. How do I request an absentee ballot be mailed to me?

You can request your mail-in ballot online, by email, traditional mail or fax.

Online:

To request your ballot online, go to myvote.wi.gov and click on the “Vote Absentee” option on the main menu at the top of the page. Here’s a direct link to that site. You will be asked to enter your first and last name and date of birth to look up your voter registration information.

When your information appears, click the blue “Request Absentee Ballot” button. You will be taken to a page where you’re asked a few questions to verify that you’re eligible to vote. You will then be asked which election, or elections, you’d like a mail-in ballot for this year. Select which ones you’d like to receive by mail.

April 7 is Wisconsin’s presidential primary and state Supreme Court race. There is also a statewide constitutional amendment on the ballot, as well as some referendums and judicial races for appellate and circuit courts. You can see all the races on the April 7 ballot here.

You will then be asked to upload a picture of a valid ID for voting. You can take a picture of your ID with your phone, email it to yourself, save it to your computer, then upload. If you’re doing this application on your phone, you could upload a photo right from your phone.

Valid photo IDs include a driver’s license, state ID card, military ID card or passport.

If you’re a student, you can use your student ID as long as it meets certain criteria. It must have the date of issuance, student signature, and an expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance. Also, the university or college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves enrollment, like a transcript or tuition bill.

A full list of acceptable IDs can be found here.

Email, Traditional Mail, Fax:

You can also email, mail or fax your clerk to request a mail-in ballot. You will need to attach an absentee ballot request form, which can be downloaded here, as well as a copy of a valid ID (see list above). You can find your local clerk’s email, address and fax number on this website.

What is the deadline for requesting an absentee ballot?

The absolute latest you can request your mail-in ballot is before 5 p.m. the Thursday before Election Day. In this case, that’s 5 p.m. April 2. However, election officials are requesting you request your ballot as soon as possible to accommodate any delays in the postal service system and an anticipated high volume of requests.

How do I fill out an absentee ballot?

The ballot is the exact same one you’d see at an in-person polling place on Election Day. However, there are a few more things you’ll need to do, including getting a witness’ signature, sealing your ballot and putting it back in the mail.

You will need to have a witness sign your ballot. The witness cannot be a candidate for the election. They “must verify that the individual completed the absentee ballot but should not view the voter’s choices,” according to the state Elections Commission.

Full instructions for completing your absentee ballot can be found here.

What is the deadline for returning my absentee ballot?

Your completed absentee ballot must be delivered no later than 8 p.m. Election Day. According to the Elections Commission, the U.S. Postal Service recommends absentee ballots be mailed one week before Election Day to arrive in time.

I’m registered to vote in Wisconsin, but my address isn’t up-to-date. How do I request an absentee ballot be mailed to me?

If your current address isn’t listed when you look up your voter registration information on myvote.wi.gov, click the blue “Update Name or Address” button.

You will be asked a series of questions. If your address has already been updated with the DMV, the process will be especially quick, because the system will cross-check with DMV records to certify your new address.

If you aren’t linked to your new address in DMV records, you will be prompted to update your records there. You can do so online.

At the end of the questions, if you don’t already have an ID on file with your local clerk’s office, you’ll be prompted to upload a picture of a valid photo ID. Valid photo IDs include a driver’s license, state ID card, military ID card or passport.

If you’re a student, you can use your student ID as long as it meets certain criteria. It must have the date of issuance, student signature, and an expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance. Also, the university or college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves enrollment, like a transcript or tuition bill.

A full list of acceptable IDs can be found here.

The ID you upload doesn’t need to have your current address — your old address is just fine, according to the state Elections Commission (see the “Important things to know” tab). After uploading your ID, you’ll be notified that your address has been updated. You will be given the option to download your new certificate of voter registration.

You can now go through the process of requesting an absentee ballot at your new address (see top of this article).

I don’t want to vote by mail, but I also don’t want to go out on Election Day in case there are big crowds. Are there other ways to vote?

Yes. You can cast an in-person absentee ballot at your local clerk’s office. Each city, village and town in Wisconsin is responsible for setting the dates and hours of in-person absentee voting for their municipality. To find the dates and hours for in-person absentee voting where you live, check your municipal clerk’s website or call their office.

You can find your local clerk’s address, phone and fax number on this website.