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How to vote in Wisconsin
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Voter registration deadlines
- Voter registration deadline (online): 20 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 20 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
Absentee & mail ballot deadlines
- Ballot request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 5 days before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): Varies by municipality. Please contact your Wisconsin clerk to find out more. Click here to find their contact information
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day
Wisconsin voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 20 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 20 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Wisconsin registration using the Wisconsin voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Wisconsin you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Wisconsin for at least 28 days
- be 18 years old by Election Day
- if you have been convicted of a felony, you must have completed parole and probation
- not be incapable of understanding the objective of the elective process or be under guardianship
- If you register to vote by mail, you must send a proof‐of‐residence document with your complete first and last name and residential address, such as a copy of your current and valid Wisconsin driver license or state ID card, real estate tax bill, utility bill no older than 90 days, bank statement, paycheck or paystub, or a check or document issued by any government agency. A full list of acceptable documents is available at elections.wi.gov. If you forget to send this document, you will likely have to register again at the polls on Election Day and show your proof of residency then.
You can register online if you have a Wisconsin driver’s license or non-driver ID card.
- Visit the Wisconsin online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 20 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Enter your Wisconsin driver license or DOT-issued ID card number. If you don't have one, enter the last 4 digits of your social security number. If you don't have any of these numbers, write "NONE" in the box.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: Not required
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Not required
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 20 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring a photo ID and proof of residence.
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 ID card receipt from Wisconsin DOT (dated within 45 days)
- Current driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Current identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Student ID with a photo from a Wisconsin accredited university or college. It must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date. The ID must be current or be expired no more than 2 years from the issue date. If the ID is expired, the voter must also prove current enrollment.
Acceptable proof of residence includes:
- Current Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin DOT-issued ID card
- Property tax bill/receipt from current year
- Student ID with a photo plus a fee payment receipt dated within 9 months. The student ID must be from a Wisconsin accredited university or college, and it must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date.
- Utility bill dated within 90 days
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government-issued check or other document Learn more here.
- Summary: Wisconsin has same day registration. You can register and vote during the early voting period and on Election Day.
- Where to go:
You can register to vote in person at the clerk’s office until the Friday before Election Day. Depending on the municipality, you can vote at the clerk’s office (if it is an early voting site) or go to your early voting location. Same-day registration and voting are not possible on the Saturday and Sunday before Election Day if the clerk chooses to offer voting on those days. Find your local election office to learn more.
- What to bring:
Bring a photo ID and proof of residence.
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 ID card receipt from Wisconsin DOT (dated within 45 days)
- Current driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Current identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Student ID with a photo from a Wisconsin accredited university or college. It must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date. The ID must be current or be expired no more than 2 years from the issue date. If the ID is expired, the voter must also prove current enrollment.
Acceptable proof of residence includes:
- Current Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin DOT-issued ID card
- Property tax bill/receipt from current year
- Student ID with a photo plus a fee payment receipt dated within 9 months. The student ID must be from a Wisconsin accredited university or college, and it must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date.
- Utility bill dated within 90 days
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government-issued check or other document Learn more here.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are restored upon completion of prison, parole, and probation.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You cannot vote while on parole.
- You cannot vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- Financial obligations:
- parole fees
- probation fees
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
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
Wisconsin early voting guide
- Early voting starts: Varies by municipality
- Early voting ends: Varies by municipality
You must show a photo ID when you vote.
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 ID card receipt from Wisconsin DOT (dated within 45 days)
- Current driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Current identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Student ID with a photo from a Wisconsin accredited university or college. It must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date. The ID must be current or be expired no more than 2 years from the issue date. If the ID is expired, the voter must also prove current enrollment.
Wisconsin voter ID guide
You must show a photo ID when you vote.
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 ID card receipt from Wisconsin DOT (dated within 45 days)
- Current driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Current identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Student ID with a photo from a Wisconsin accredited university or college. It must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date. The ID must be current or be expired no more than 2 years from the issue date. If the ID is expired, the voter must also prove current enrollment.
- 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.
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.
You can register online if you have a Wisconsin driver’s license or non-driver ID card.
Bring a photo ID and proof of residence.
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 ID card receipt from Wisconsin DOT (dated within 45 days)
- Current driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Current identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- Student ID with a photo from a Wisconsin accredited university or college. It must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date. The ID must be current or be expired no more than 2 years from the issue date. If the ID is expired, the voter must also prove current enrollment.
Acceptable proof of residence includes:
- Current Wisconsin driver's license or Wisconsin DOT-issued ID card
- Property tax bill/receipt from current year
- Student ID with a photo plus a fee payment receipt dated within 9 months. The student ID must be from a Wisconsin accredited university or college, and it must show your name, photo, signature, an issue date and an expiration date.
- Utility bill dated within 90 days
- Bank statement
- Paycheck
- Government-issued check or other document Learn more here.
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