Not registered on Election Day? There's still time to vote

The League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County registers people to vote, one of its main functions. In Wisconsin, registering is possible on Election Day. (Photo provided by League of Women Voters Milwaukee County)

The deadline to register to vote by mail or online has passed but no need to worry. It is possible to register to vote on the day of the election – a right not available in every state.

Here’s the most current information needed to register on Nov. 5.

Are you eligible to vote?

To qualify to vote in Wisconsin, a person must be: 18 years of age on Election Day; a U.S. citizen; a resident of Wisconsin.

One thing that disqualifies people from voting is if they are “on paper” for a felony, or serving a sentence for a felony, including probation, parole or extended supervision.

Where to register?

Election Day voter registration takes place at a person’s polling place.

While there are many polling places throughout the city, each person must use their specific polling place, determined by their home address.

One thing to consider, though, is that a person must have lived at their current address for at least 28 consecutive days before the election. This means that in order to use an address by Election Day, the person must have lived there on or before Oct. 8.

This is different from the 2020 presidential election, for which the timeline was 10 days, said Michelle Hawley, elections director for the Milwaukee County Election Commission.

But living at your current address for fewer than 28 days does not mean you cannot register to vote on Election Day, added Elizabeth Aelion, who volunteers doing voter services for the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County.

“If someone moved less than 28 days prior to the election – so let’s say they moved a week prior to the election – that just means that they would register and vote at their previous Wisconsin location,” she said.

Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.

What to bring?

When registering at a polling place, a person must present a proof of residence document that will confirm the person lives at their address, unless the person is an active military voter or a permanent overseas voter.

That’s the main difference between what’s needed for registering versus what is needed for voting, said Aelion.

“When you register, you prove where you live. When you vote, you’re proving who you are,” she said.

The proof of residency document must include the person’s current and complete name and current and complete residential address.

If applicable, an account or document number must also be visible on the document.

Some of the most common documentation that Hawley sees for registering include a Wisconsin driver’s license or identification card, a utility bill, bank statement, credit card statement or cell phone bill.

“Most people have a cell phone bill, if anything,” she said.

These documents can be presented as a hard or paper copy or on an electronic device, such as a phone or tablet.

If using a utility bill, it cannot be older than 90 days before the day of registration, which in this case would be Aug. 7.