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Wisconsin | Voting Guide
Voting Guide
Wisconsin
Registration Deadlines and Election Dates
Voter Registration Deadline: Mail-in registrations must be submitted 20 days before Election Day. Online voter registrations must be submitted by 11:59pm on the 20th day before Election Day. Voters may register in person at their municipal clerk’s office until 5:00pm on the Friday before Election Day.
Eligible voters can also register to vote and cast a ballot at the same time at their assigned voting location on Election Day. More information on same-day registration is available at: https://elections.wi.gov/Register?ref=voteusa_en
2024 Election Information
Spring Primary: February 20
Voter Registration Deadline: January 31 (by mail or online), February 16 (at municipal clerk’s office)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: February 15
Spring Election and Presidential Preference Primary: April 2
Voter Registration Deadline: March 13 (by mail or online), March 29 (at municipal clerk’s office)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: March 28
State Primary: August 13
Voter Registration Deadline: July 24 (by mail or online)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: August 8
General Election: November 5
Voter Registration Deadline: October 16 (by mail or online), November 1 (at municipal clerk’s office)
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: October 31
Official Election Websites
Voter information available at:
More election information available at:
Online voter registration available at:
myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Register-To-Vote
PDF voter registration form available at:
Register at School or Home
Students have a decision about where to register to vote.
You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family's home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.
You may only be registered and vote in one location.
What Type of ID Do I Need to Register?
Online Registration: To register to vote online you must have your current Wisconsin driver’s license or ID number. Please see the link above for Wisconsin’s online voter registration portal.
Paper Voter Registration Application: Wisconsin's voter registration form asks for your Wisconsin driver's license or ID number. Be sure to provide one of these numbers if you have it. If you don't have a Wisconsin driver's license or state ID, then you may use the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Wisconsin also requires voters to provide proof of residence when they register. Acceptable proof-of-residence documents must contain a name and current address and can include the following:
A current Wisconsin driver’s license or ID card
Another ID card or license issued by the State of Wisconsin
Current residential lease (Not valid if registering by mail)
A university, college, or technical college photo ID card ONLY if the voter provides a tuition fee receipt from the last 9 months
Any government document or check including benefits and federal student loan documents
An employer photo ID with a current address
Bank or credit union statement
A utility bill like gas, electric, water, cell phone, or cable bill for a period beginning no earlier than 90 days before Election Day
Paycheck or paystub
A bank or credit card statement
A tribal ID from a federally recognized Indian tribe (must meeting address requirements)
What Type of ID Do I Need to Vote?
Both in-person and absentee Wisconsin voters MUST show photo ID at the polls or submit a copy with their absentee ballot request. Voters who by reason of age, physical illness, infirmity, or disability may have difficulty travelling to the polling place are considered "indefinitely confined" and do not have to submit a copy of ID with their absentee ballot request form.
Acceptable forms of ID include:
Wisconsin driver’s license or ID card (must be current or expired after the last general election)
An expired or unexpired college, university or technical college student ID card with a signature, an issuance date, and an expiration date no later than two years after the issuance date (even if expired before the most recent general election). If the ID is expired, it must be presented with proof of current enrollment like a tuition fee receipt or letter verifying enrollment, as a paper copy or displayed on a smartphone or tablet. However, even if your ID is unexpired, in an abundance of caution, you should still be prepared to present or, if voting absentee by mail, mail a copy of your proof of current enrollment.
Military or uniformed service ID card
U.S. Passport or card
Certificate of naturalization issued within two years of the general election’s date
Tribal ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin (even if expired before the most recent general election)
For a full list of acceptable photo IDs, please visit:
bringit.wi.gov/do-i-have-right-photo-id
Photo ID does NOT need to list an address or a current address, only your name and photo. If you do not have an accepted form of voter ID, a free voter ID card can be obtained from the DMV.
For more information, visit:
Where Do I Vote?
Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at:
How Can I Vote?
By Mail: Any registered Wisconsin voter may vote by mail. You can request a mail ballot online or using a printable form. Except for military and overseas voters, Wisconsin voters who cast a mail ballot must do so in the presence of a witness. The witness must be a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old. If you experience difficulty locating a witness, please contact your municipal clerk’s office.
Mail-in Ballot Application Deadline: Requests for absentee ballots must be received by 5 p.m. the Thursday before Election Day
Completed Mail-in Ballot Return Deadline: Completed ballots must be returned so that they are received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
You can return your ballot in-person at your municipal clerk's office or central count location. Please contact your municipal clerk's office to confirm locations.
Early In-person: You can vote early at a municipal clerk’s office beginning the 14th day before Election Day until the Sunday before Election Day. Check with your clerk for the dates and hours.
Election Day: Voting sites will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, then you have the right to vote.
Common Questions/Concerns
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Federal Financial Aid?
Where you register to vote will not affect federal financial aid such as Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.
Does Registering to Vote Affect my Status as a Dependent on My Parents’ Taxes?
Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.
Does Registering to Vote impact my Tuition Status?
Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.
Will registering to vote in Wisconsin affect my driver’s license or car registration?
As a full-time student in Wisconsin, you may be required to obtain a Wisconsin driver's license and update your car’s registration, regardless of whether you register to vote there. For more information, contact the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles.
Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Wisconsin legal professional.
Last updated February 2024