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Madison, WI
Change City

How to Vote in Wisconsin’s 2024 Elections

Posted on 08/22/24 by Maura Kelly Lannan

En español

Important dates and election information

  • Regular mail/online voter registration deadline: Wednesday, Oct. 16
  • Regular in-person voter registration deadline: Friday, Nov. 1
  • Deadline to return an absentee ballot: Tuesday, Nov. 5
  • General election: Tuesday, Nov. 5
AARP election buttons final

    Voting at a glance

    • Voter registration: Use the state’s voter information portal to check your registration status. You can register to vote on Election Day.
    • Voting at the polls: Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters must show an acceptable photo ID.

    Recent voting changes in Wisconsin

    Voters who have a disability that prevents them from reading or marking a ballot independently cannot request an electronic absentee ballot, following a court order in August. A temporary injunction issued in June had allowed such requests. The new court order pauses that permission.

    Voters who have disabilities may get help returning their absentee ballots.

    Voters can use drop boxes to return absentee ballots in Wisconsin after a state Supreme Court ruling in July. That decision overturned a 2022 ruling that had prohibited the use of drop boxes unless they are staffed by municipal clerks and located in clerk’s offices or other sites designated for absentee voting.

    Municipal clerks may no longer fix missing or incomplete addresses on return absentee ballot envelopes.

    New state legislative district maps will be in effect. The state Legislature and governor reached a bipartisan agreement after the Wisconsin Supreme Court found the old maps unconstitutional. Candidates in 2024 races for the state Legislature will run in the new districts. Find your district at myvote.wi.gov.

    How to register to vote

    Register to vote online, by mail or in person:

    • Online: Use the state’s voter registration portal to register or update your voter information. You will need a valid Wisconsin driver’s license or state-issued ID card. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
    • In person: Drop off a completed voter registration form or register in person at your municipal clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. Hours and availability vary. You will need to show a copy of a document that proves your Wisconsin residence such as a driver’s license or recent utility bill.

    Registering to vote on Election Day

    You can register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. Show a copy of a document that proves you live in Wisconsin such as a driver’s license or a recent utility bill. You then will need to show a valid photo ID, such as a Wisconsin driver’s license, a passport or another acceptable document, to receive a ballot and vote.

    Check your voter registration status

    You can check your registration status using the state’s voter registration portal.

    Americans Head To The Polls To Vote In The 2022 Midterm Elections
    A polling center in Madison, Wis.
    Jim Vondruska/Getty Images

    How to request an absentee ballot

    Any registered voter can request a no-excuse absentee ballot. Voters can request that an absentee ballot be sent to them for each future election by marking the “calendar year” option on the regular absentee ballot application.

    • By mail: Download and complete a ballot application and mail it to your municipal clerk’s office. Make sure you leave enough time for election officials to process your request and mail your ballot. An application must be received by your municipal clerk by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31.
    • In person: Fill out a ballot application at your municipal clerk’s office by the last day the clerk offers in-person voting, which can vary. In-person voting must end by Sunday, Nov. 3.

    Returning an absentee ballot

    Your ballot envelope will need to be signed by a witness before you return it. Your witness should be an adult U.S. citizen who must provide their address and signature. Return your ballot by mail or in person.

    • By mail: Mail your completed ballot to your municipal clerk’s office using the pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope so it is received by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5. It’s recommended you mail your completed ballot at least one week before Election Day.

    Municipal clerks are prohibited from fixing missing or incomplete addresses on absentee ballot return envelopes. Clerks who find incomplete information may send the envelope back to the voter and can send a new one for the voter to correct if necessary. The corrected envelope and ballot must be returned to the clerk’s office by Election Day.

    Use the state’s voter portal to track the status of your absentee ballot.

    Voting in person before Election Day

    Cast an absentee ballot in person at your municipal clerk’s office or other designated locations. Use the state's voting portal to find locations and hours. Schedules vary by municipality, but the first day it may begin is Tuesday, Oct. 22, and it must end by Sunday, Nov. 3. You will have to show a photo ID such as a Wisconsin driver’s license or other acceptable document.

    Voting at the polls on Election Day

    Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You still can vote after 8 p.m. if you are in line before polls close. Use the state’s voter information portal to find your polling place.

    Voter ID requirements on Election Day

    You will need to show a valid photo ID, such as a Wisconsin driver’s license, a passport or another acceptable document specified by law.

    Sample ballots will be available at the Wisconsin Elections Commission website.

    Voting with a disability 

    Voters with a disability can receive assistance when completing a voter registration or absentee ballot application. After completing the application, the person who assists must sign the form in the appropriate box and sign the absentee certificate envelope.

    Voters with a disability who need help returning absentee ballots are entitled to assistance from a person of their choice, as long as that person is not an employer or a representative of the voter’s union.

    Voters who can’t get to the polls because they are sick or have a disability can automatically receive absentee ballots for every election until they do not return an absentee ballot or they indicate a change in status. Request this at myvote.wi.gov or by asking your municipal clerk in writing or through email.

    When checking in at a polling place, voters must sign a document called a poll list, which lists names and addresses of registered voters, before receiving a ballot. Those who aren’t able to sign because of a disability are exempt. Election inspectors will note the exemption and issue a ballot.

    All polling places must have accessible voting machines and must comply with requests from voters who want to vote from their car. They also can request help with accessible voting equipment.

    Voting from a nursing home or long-term care facility

    Ask your nursing home or long-term care facility or your municipal clerk if special voting deputies will visit the facility to offer voting.

    Editor’s note: This guide was originally published on Jan. 23, 2024, and has been updated with new information about voting in the 2024 elections.

    Maura Kelly Lannan is a writer, editor and producer for AARP who covers federal and state policy. She has worked as a reporter for the Associated Press, the Chicago Tribune and the Waterbury, Connecticut, Republican-American. She also has written for Bloomberg Government, The Boston Globe and other publications. 

    Also of Interest:

    This story is provided by AARP Wisconsin. Visit the AARP Wisconsin page for more news, events, and programs affecting retirement, health care, and more.

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