With less than a month until the partisan primary election on Aug. 11, there’s still time to make a plan to vote.
“Based on overall year-to-year trends and encouraging voters to either use drop boxes or in-person absentee voting (IPAV or early voting), we expect turnout to exceed partisan primary turnout from past elections,” said Paulina Gutierrez, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, in an email.
She said that in the 2024 partisan primary, just over 7,000 voters used early voting and nearly 1,300 voters dropped off their absentee ballots at an Early Voting Center.
Here’s what you need to know to register to vote, request and submit an absentee ballot or find a voting location in Milwaukee.
Registering to vote
Registration is needed if you are a new voter, have moved since the last election or have not voted in the past four years.
Wednesday, July 22 is the last day to register to vote online or by mail before the election.
To register online at My Vote Wisconsin, residents must have a valid Wisconsin driver’s license or Wisconsin state ID and have current name and address information filed with the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles.
Another option is to mail a voter registration form, along with a copy of a proof of residence document, to the Milwaukee Election Commission, 200 E. Wells St., Room 501, Milwaukee, WI 53202. Letters must be postmarked at least 20 days before the election.
Milwaukee Public Library branches can assist voters with completing the registration process during regular hours until July 22.
Residents can register to vote in-person at early voting centers beginning two weeks before the Aug. 11 election until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. They can also register at their polling place on election day.
Absentee voting
Voters can request an absentee ballot online, mail an “Absentee Ballot Request” to the Milwaukee Election Commission or email absenteeballot@milwaukee.gov until 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6.
If you plan to request a mail-in ballot, it’s recommended to do it as soon as possible to ensure your ballot arrives in time to complete it for the August primary.
Requests must include a copy of the requester’s photo I.D., full name, voting and mailing address (if they are different) and which elections they plan to vote in by mail.
Drop boxes for absentee ballots are available at Milwaukee Public Library branches and the Zeidler Municipal Building, 830 N. Market St., until 6 p.m. on Aug. 11. Find a list here.
Voters may also drop off absentee ballots at early voting centers during working hours.
Absentee ballots will be accepted at a voter’s polling place or Central Count, 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., until 8 p.m. on Aug. 11.
If you have to return a ballot in the mail, the Milwaukee Election Commission recommends sending it as soon as possible.
Voting early or in person
Early voting, or in-person absentee voting, starts on Tuesday, July 28 at six locations in Milwaukee. Some locations are open until Friday, Aug. 7 and others until Sunday, Aug. 9.
Early voters can receive the latest “I Voted Early” sticker from the commission’s design contest, this one by Milwaukee Public Schools art teacher Fozia Habib.
On election day, Aug. 11 polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
The Milwaukee Election Commission changed the location of three polling places, so make sure to check your polling place with your address here or on MyVote Wisconsin and bring a photo ID.
For those with accessibility needs, curbside voting and ballot marking devices are available for voters with hearing, visual or physical disabilities.
Who’s going to be on the ballot?
This election is to nominate each party’s candidate before the general election in November in a number of races, including for U.S. representative of District 4, governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer and multiple state representative and state senator positions.
Voters may vote in only one party’s primary and can find their ballot on My Vote Wisconsin.
To learn about the candidates, check out Wisconsin Watch’s interactive voter guide. You can search by voting address and click on the candidates to read more reporting.
Can I update my ballot if a candidate drops out?
If a voter returns their ballot and later changes their mind about who they would like to vote for or the candidate they voted for drops out of the race, this is not considered an “accident or mistake” and they would not be issued a new ballot, according to new guidance from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
The Milwaukee Election Commission can still cancel or “spoil” a ballot and issue a replacement if a voter makes a mistake marking their ballot or it is damaged.
Poll workers
The city is seeking poll workers. New applicants can apply online.
The August primary is a great way to experience being a poll worker before the November general election, Gutierrez said.
Here are the qualifications:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be 18 years old or older
- Be a resident of Milwaukee County
- Not serving a sentence (including parole, probation or extended supervision) for a felony conviction and/or not adjudicated incompetent by a judge
- Be able to read and write fluently in English
- Not be a candidate for any office to be voted on at the polling place at that election.
- Hold no public office
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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