Wisconsin absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): Varies by municipality. Please contact your Wisconsin clerk to find out more. Click here to find their contact information
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Any registered Wisconsin voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
- Visit the Wisconsin absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 5 days before Election Day.
- Download the Wisconsin absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 5 days before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person varies by municipality. Please contact your Wisconsin clerk to find out more. Click here to find their contact information.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
- Online applications: If you are voting in Wisconsin for the first time, you will need to upload a photo of a valid photo ID.
- Paper applications: You can request an absentee ballot by mail or submitting your paper application in person. If you have not previously provided a copy of acceptable photo ID with a prior by-mail absentee request, you must include a copy of a valid photo ID.
Acceptable photo IDs include:
- Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin DOT-issued ID card. This ID must be current or have expired after Nov 8, 2022.
- US passport or passport card. This ID must be current or have expired after Nov 8, 2022.
- Military ID. This ID must be current or have expired after Nov 8, 2022.
- Tribal ID. This ID can be used even if it expired before Nov 8, 2022.
- Current Veterans Affairs Card
- US Certificate of Naturalization issued within 2 years
- Current photo receipt from Wisconsin DOT (dated within 45 days)
- Current driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Current identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT Learn more here.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
You must sign the ballot in the presence of a witness. The witness must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old and not a candidate in the upcoming election.
Track your ballot here: Wisconsin absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if you forget to sign it, if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you, or if your ballot is not signed by a witness.
- You must fix these issues by 8:00 pm on Election Day for your vote to count.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
If you are hospitalized, you may apply for an absentee ballot or have someone apply on your behalf. If you meet the registration requirement, but are not currently registered to vote, you may complete a voter registration form at the same time as you apply for a ballot.
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends 5PM Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is close of polls Election Day at your polling location or 8PM to the municipal clerk in some jurisdictions. Ballots may be returned by mail or in person.
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Wisconsin elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Wisconsin Elections Commission 212 East Washington Avenue, Third Floor P.O. Box 7984 Madison, WI 53707‐7984