Knowing how to vote absentee is especially important in the uncertain COVID-19 times we are facing. With upcoming elections on August 11th and November 3rd, obtaining your absentee ballot as soon as possible is very important.
Who can request an Absentee Ballot?
Any registered Wisconsin voter is eligible to request an absentee ballot.
Special provisions are made for hospitalized electors and sequestered jurors to request and vote by absentee ballot on election day. Contact your municipal clerk for assistance.
I want to vote absentee but I am not registered to vote
- If you are not already registered, you will need to register to vote before an absentee ballot can be sent to you.
- You may register online at www.myvote.wi.gov/en-us/RegisterToVote , by mail, in person at your municipal clerk’s office, or at your polling place on election day.
- Deadlines: If you are registering by mail or online, you must register at least 20 days before the election (July 22 for the August 11 election, October 14 for the November 3 election).
After this deadline, you can register at your clerk’s office or at your polling place on Election Day.
Requesting an Absentee Ballot:
Online:
Request an absentee ballot at myvote.wi.gov/en-us/VoteAbsentee.
If you have not requested an absentee ballot before, you will be asked to upload a copy of your photo ID. The ballot will be mailed to you.
By Mail:
Download the Application for Absentee Ballot from the Wisconsin Election Commission web site: elections.wi.gov/index.php/forms/EL-121-english.
- You must provide a copy of your acceptable photo ID with your application,unless you are exempt by law.
- Information about photo ID: bringit.wi.gov.
- Complete the form and mail it to your municipal clerk’s office.
- Mail your application as soon as possible to allow time to receive and return your ballot.
By Email:
Email your clerk with a ballot request.
- State your full name
- Wisconsin voting address
- The election you would like a ballot for or if requesting for the calendar year
- Mailing address if different that voting address.
- Include a copy of your photo ID with the email if it is not already on file.
In-person:
Apply for an absentee ballot in person at your clerk’s office.
Early voting (In-Person Absentee Voting) at your Municipal Clerk’s office You can apply for and vote your absentee ballot in-person in your municipal clerk’s office or another location designated for absentee voting in your municipality
- 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, contact your municipal clerk.
When should I request my Absentee Ballot?
Request your absentee ballot as soon as possible to ensure you receive it in time to complete and return.
You may request an absentee ballot for both the August 11 and November 3 election at the same time.
Deadline to request an absentee ballot:
For August 11 election:
- August 6th, 2020 at 5 PM for regular voters
- August 7th at 5 PM for Indefinitely Confined voters
For November 3rd election:
- October 29th at 5 PM for regular voters
- October 30th at 5 PM for Indefinitely Confined voters
Who can assist me with absentee voting questions?
What if I always need to absentee vote due to disability, age, physical illness, or infirmity?
- An “indefinitely confined” voter will have their ballot mailed to them for each election until they don’t return a ballot.
- If this occurs, the municipal clerk will contact the voter to see if they want to remain on the “indefinitely confined” voter list.
- “Indefinitely confined” does not have to mean that the voter is homebound and can never leave their residence.
- This option is for voters who have a hard time getting to their polling place due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability.
- Voters who are indefinitely confined are not required to provide a Photo ID.
- How to apply to be an “indefinitely confined” voter:
- Complete the absentee ballot application and choose the “indefinitely confined” option in section 6 of the form, certifying that you are indefinitely confined, or send a request in writing to your municipal clerk.
Tips for Completing Your Absentee Ballot
- Complete and return your absentee ballot AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
- Be sure to read and follow the instructions that are included with your absentee ballot.
- Find a time when you can have someone witness you completing your ballot.
- Absentee voters must have someone witness their absentee ballot by signing and providing their address on the certificate envelope.
- Your witness can be any adult U.S. citizen except for a candidate on your ballot.
- The witness should not view the voter’s choices.
- Use blue or black pen to complete your ballot.
- When you vote in the August 11th Partisan Primary, you must choose a political party and only vote for candidates within that political party.
- Voting in more than one political party may void your voting choices.
- Review your name and address on the return envelope to ensure it is correct.
- Put your ballot in the return envelope.
- Sign and date the certificate on the return envelope on the line marked “Signature of Voter”.
- Seal the envelope.
- Mail or deliver your ballot to your clerk by the deadline.
Tips for returning your Absentee Ballot
- The U.S. Postal Service recommends absentee ballots be mailed one week before Election Day to arrive in time.
If it is within a week of the election, the US mail may not get your ballot there in time. If possible, drop off your ballot to your clerk or to a drop box if available. On election day, it should be delivered to your polling place.
How to check the status of your Absentee Ballot
Check the status of your absentee ballot request at myvote.wi.gov. This will show the date you requested the ballot, the date it was mailed to you, and the date your completed ballot was received.
If your requested Absentee Ballot does not arrive
If you requested your absentee ballot and it did not arrive in time, you may vote in person on Election Day or you can vote early at your Municipal clerk’s office.
Source: Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition (http://www.disabilityvote.org/)
