Election 2020: What you need to know to vote on Nov. 3 | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Matt Martinez
October 15, 2020
Election officials register voters on the first day of early voting in 2014 at the Zeidler Municipal Building. (File photo by Andrea Waxman)
This year’s general election is Nov. 3. On the ballot, voters will have the opportunity to choose their lawmakers, including seats in the House of Representatives and the president of the United States.
Here’s everything you need to know to make sure your vote counts this year:
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In order to participate in the general election, Milwaukee residents should make sure they’re registered to vote.
The deadline to register to vote online or by mail was Oct. 14
But you can register to vote in person at your local municipal clerk’s office until 5 p.m. Oct. 30. Click here to find your municipal clerk location. You will need  proof of residence.
If you plan to vote in person on Nov. 3, you can also register to vote at your polling place. At this location, you can cast your ballot or register to vote until 8 p.m. This will require a proof of residence document. Visit this link to find your polling place by entering your address.
Starting on Oct. 20, Milwaukee voters can vote in the general election. The early voting period lasts until Nov. 1.
The following locations are open for early voting from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
These locations also are open for early voting from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The UW-Milwaukee Student Union is also open for early voting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is located at 2200 E Kenwood Blvd.
The following locations will be available for early voting by appointment. Email kdzapat@milwaukee.gov to request an appointment:
The deadline to request absentee ballots which can be submitted by mail is 5 p.m. Oct. 29 for regular and overseas voters, and 5 p.m. Oct. 30 for military voters and the indefinitely confined.
To request an absentee ballot, visit this webpage.
Here’s a link to a map created to help people find ballot drop boxes, created by teacher Blake Burgess for people to locate the drop box closest to them.
Ballots will look different depending on what area of the city you’re voting in, as you’ll be able to vote for local elections that are specific to your district as well as state and federal elections. To find out more about what elections you’re eligible to vote for, visit this link.
Wisconsin voter identification laws requires most voters to present a photo ID. Accepted forms of photo ID can include:
There are some exceptions. Voters in the military, people living permanently overseas and confidential electors do not have to provide a photo ID to get an absentee ballot. Similarly, voters that are indefinitely confined in nursing homes or care facilities do not need to show a photo ID but do need a signature from a witness in order to get an absentee ballot.
Senior citizens might have easier access to voter resources, thanks to the civic engagement group Souls to the Polls. The organization reached an agreement with the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee to set up voter assistance kiosks in senior housing units. This means that seniors living in public housing can get assistance registering to vote and applying for absentee ballots.