Voter ID laws in Wisconsin changed the documents necessary to vote. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
Tuesday, Feb. 16, is a primary election. To vote, you must show a photo ID, whether you vote on Election Day, before the election or with an absentee ballot.
What are acceptable photo IDs?
When voting, you must show one of the following: a Wisconsin driver’s license, state ID, tribal ID, U.S. passport, certificate of naturalization, U.S. military card or an unexpired receipt from the Division of Motor Vehicles for a license. A college ID is also accepted, as long as proof of enrollment is also shown.
While the address on the ID does not need to be current, make sure the ID’s expiration date has not passed.
How to get a free photo ID
A photo ID can be obtained at the Division of Motor Vehicles by filling out a Wisconsin Identification Card application and presenting a document for each of the following categories: name and date of birth; proof of U.S. citizenship; proof of identity; and proof of Wisconsin residency. Also, bring your Social Security number.
Some documents can be used to prove multiple categories. Click here to see which can apply to more than one category.
To prove name and birthday, you can bring a certified birth certificate, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization or a court order. To prove U.S. citizenship, a U.S. birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or certificate of naturalization is required. Your Social Security card or ID from another state can be used to prove your identity.
Finally, a recent pay stub, utility bill, financial statement, insurance policy or mortgage statement for a Wisconsin property can be used to prove Wisconsin residency.
How to get an ID if you do not have the required documents
If you are a U.S. citizen, you must pay a fee and fill out a form to state that the required documents are unavailable.
How to show an ID if filling out an absentee ballot
You must include a copy of your ID with your absentee ballot.
How to send an absentee ballot if you are a senior citizen
Seniors are given special consideration for absentee ballots if you are indefinitely confined. You must indicate that on the ballot and have a witness verify your identity by signing the absentee ballot. If you live in a nursing home or senior residence, the two Special Voting Deputies that visit these facilities or an authorized representative of the facility must verify your identity on the ballot.
Click here to access this information in Spanish.
- How to vote in the February election - January 27, 2016
This information is NOT accurate. It contains numerous mistakes. Please, please, please Neighborhood News Service, do not add to the confusion. If I didn’t know better, I’d think the Wisc GOP or AFP planted this “news” story.
How could you possibly make this kind of a statement. The information is very accurate. Also, why would the GOP or AFP want to distort voting information? That makes no sense at all. If anything I would suggest that you would want to suppress voting information if this offends you so much. This story is done by Neighborhood news to disseminate valuable voter information so as to avoid confusion prior to any election. If there is anything that is inaccurate about the material then I would suggest you either correct that information or at least indicate what is wrong and how it is so wrong. Other wise you are just screaming into the wind.
I do not understand why there is any kind of objection for “Voter ID” in Wisconsin. It was passed in the WI legislature and was signed into law by Gov Walker. That should be enough. After all this is America and when it comes to the law of the land, whether long time existing laws or new laws, they are the laws. This particular law makes perfect sense. It was designed to be easily obtained by those that don’t have proof of ID. In fact it is free at the dept of motor vehicles. It can’t get much easier than that. Yet it’s primary purpose is to prevent voter fraud. We are all “created equal” to borrow the excuse used by Gwen Moore. That means that everybody gets ONE vote and that vote is to be used for legal residents in their particular districts. This is still very simple and straight forward. Any body who disagrees with this simple process would have to have something to hide or disguise. No body is being discriminated with or denied their due process to exercise their right to vote. The only people that this would affect negatively would be someone who is trying to fraudulently vote more than once or in the wrong district. This is perfectly legal and sane. Gwen Moore’s objections to this are strictly political. They have no basis in fact or reason. The only purpose she could have in this obstruction is to facilitate fraudulent voting. No other reason makes any sense what so ever. Her comment/excuse of being “created equal” is a two edged sword. Yes, we are all created equal and are entitled to one vote placed in the correct district. This would be true with or without voter ID. But, created equal means that there has to be some way to ensure that it is truly one vote in the correct district. The past methods have been abused beyond the absurd. This method will ensure that all of us “created equal” citizens won’t have our votes negated by someone fraudulently casting more than one vote. I can’t envision any reason whey someone would want to circumvent this simple yet effective way to ensure that our one vote is worth it’s entire weight.