What you need to know to be able to vote in April 7 election in Milwaukee

(Photo by Adam Carr)

Updated on Monday April 6 at 8:27 p.m.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with the corrected absentee drop-off deadline.

The spring election is back on.

In a whirlwind Monday, Gov. Tony Evers issued an emergency executive order pushing in-person voting for Wisconsin’s spring primary back to June 9, and he called the legislature into another special session.

But Republican lawmakers in Madison rejected the governor’s order and took the issue to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which reinstated Tuesday’s elections.

Then the U.S. Supreme Court got into the act, ruling voters will have to mail back their absentee ballots by Tuesday, go to the polls that day or give up their opportunity to vote.

So for Milwaukee voters wondering if the election is still happening Tuesday, the answer at this moment is yes.

If you’re planning on voting absentee . . .

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Keep these deadlines in mind:

All absentee ballots must be hand delivered by 8 p.m. on April 7 or postmarked by April 7 and received by 4 p.m. on April 13 to be counted, according to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Ballots will not be accepted if they are:

Not postmarked by April 7.

Postmarked on or before April 7, but received after 4 p.m.on April 13.

Hand delivered or without a postmark received after 8 p.m.on April 7.

Ballots must be postmarked or delivered by 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. Clerks still have until April 13 to receive and count ballots.

What do I do if I’ve requested an absentee ballot but haven’t received one?

Contact the Milwaukee Election Commission at voterinfo@milwaukee.gov or call 414-286-VOTE.

If you have requested but have not returned an absentee ballot, you still have the option of voting in person on Tuesday, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

What do I do if I don’t live with anyone who could be a witness to sign my absentee ballot?

Any adult can sign and be a witness to your absentee ballot, but it may be difficult to find a witness if you don’t live with other adults due to social distancing guidelines.

Witnesses will be present and able to sign your ballot at any of the five absentee ballot drop-off locations.

The latest updates about witness requirements can be found on the Wisconsin Election Commission site here.

If I don’t want to mail in my ballot, where can I drop it off?

You can drop off your absentee ballot at one of five locations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 7.

Bay View Library, 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Zablocki Library, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave.
Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.
Mill Road Library, 6431 N. 76^th St.
Zeidler Municipal Building, 841 N. Broadway

These are NOT the same locations as the in-person voting centers for Tuesday.

Do I need an ID or any documents to drop off a ballot at a drop-off location?

No. You needed an ID when you requested your absentee ballot ID, so you don’t need to bring it with you to drop off your ballot, according to Albrecht at the Milwaukee Election Commission.

If you’re considering voting in person…

Have voting locations changed for Tuesday’s election?

Yes. Voting in person will be very different than past elections.

There will be only five voting centers for the entire city of Milwaukee, and you have a specific one you have to go to, based on where you live.

Where are the five in-person voting centers for Tuesday?

Riverside High School
Marshall High School
South Division High School
Washington High School
Hamilton High School

The voting centers are based off of aldermanic districts, and you have to vote at the specific one for your district.

You can see where your voting center by clicking here.

What are the hours?

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7.

How does social distancing impact this?

According to Neil Albrecht from the Milwaukee Election Commission, election workers, members of the Milwaukee Health Department and the National Guard will be enforcing all public health and safety precautions, including social distancing.

This is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Can I still register at the voting centers?

Yes, Wisconsin has same-day registration, so you can still register to vote at your voting center on Tuesday.

What do I need to bring with me to vote? To register?

If you’re registering to vote at a voting center on April 7, and the address on your ID does not match your current one, you’ll need to bring a separate proof of address.

Acceptable forms of proof of address include a paycheck, bank statement or a utility bill that shows your complete name and current residence. Not just any piece of mail is considered an acceptable proof of address, Albrecht said. Click here for more examples.

You’ll also need a photo ID that meets the state’s requirement to register on Tuesday. Those include Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued driver’s licenses, Wisconsin state IDs, military ID cards, a U.S. passport or a certificate of naturalization that was issued no more than two years from the date of the election.

For a full list of acceptable IDs, click here.

If I haven’t registered to vote yet, is voting in person on Tuesday my only option?

Yes.

Have you requested an absentee ballot and not received it yet? Have you had any other trouble accessing your right to vote? NNS wants to hear from you. Email info@milwaukeenns.org or text, call, Whatsapp or Signal our reporter Allison at 262-497-5927.