The primary election is just around the corner on Aug. 11. Residents have important decisions to make in races for governor, Congress, and state government.
Paulina Gutierrez, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, said in an July email that she expects turnout to exceed partisan primary turnouts from past elections.
Here’s what you need to know to register to vote, find a voting location in Milwaukee, and cast your ballot.
Registering to vote
If you voted in the last few years and haven’t moved and your name hasn’t changed, you’re likely already registered to vote. You can check to see if you are registered here.
If you are a new Wisconsin voter, your name and/or residential address has changed since you last registered to vote, or if you have not voted in the past four years, you will need to complete a voter registration application.
The deadline to register to vote online or by mail before the election has passed so you’ll need to do so in person at your polling place on Tuesday.
You’ll also need to bring acceptable proof of address documents. Examples include a valid driver’s license or ID, utility bill and bank statement. Here’s a full list of accepted documents.
Absentee voting
Voters who requested and received an absentee ballot can be dropped off on Aug. 11 at ballot drop boxes until 6 p.m. and until 8 p.m. at Central Count, 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Ballot drop boxes in Milwaukee can be found here.
Voting in person
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.
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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