Absentee, or mail-in, voting is already underway for the Nov. 3 general election, and early in-person voting will start on Oct. 20.
Here’s what you need to know to register to vote, request and submit an absentee ballot or find a polling location in Milwaukee to vote in November’s midterm election.
Registering to vote
If you are a new voter, have moved since the last election or have not voted in the past four years, you may need to register to vote. You can check your registration status, find your polling place and more online at MyVote Wisconsin.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 is the last day to register to vote online or by mail before the election.
To register online, 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. Letters must be postmarked at least 20 days before the election, or by Oct. 14.
Staff at Milwaukee Public Library branches can assist voters with completing the registration process during regular hours until Oct. 14.
To register in person, residents can go to early voting centers or the Milwaukee Election Commission’s office on the fifth floor of City Hall on Mondays through Fridays before the deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. A resident can also register at their polling place on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Absentee voting
Voters can request an absentee ballot online, mail an “Absentee Ballot Request” to the Milwaukee Election Commission or email absenteeballot@milwaukee.gov.
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 29, though the Wisconsin Elections Commission recommends absentee voters request their ballots as soon as possible to ensure they arrive in time for voters to complete and return them.
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 by mail in.
The Milwaukee Election Commission strongly encourages Milwaukee voters to return their ballots to secure ballot drop boxes now available at Milwaukee Public Library branches and the Zeidler Municipal Building, 841 N. Broadway, until 6 p.m. on Nov. 3. Find a list here.
Voters may also drop off absentee ballots at early voting centers during working hours.
Because Milwaukee has a central count facility, absentee ballots cannot be returned to polling places on Election Day.
Absentee ballots will be accepted at Central Count, which for this busier general election will be at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St., until 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.
If you have to return a ballot in the mail, the Milwaukee Election Commission recommends mailing it at least two weeks ahead of the election.
Voting early or in person
Early voting, or in-person absentee voting, starts on Tuesday, Oct. 20 in Milwaukee at 11 sites. Each location has its own schedule, with some locations open until Friday, Oct. 30 and others until Sunday, Nov. 1.
The Milwaukee Election Commission used American Serb Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave., as an early voting location in previous general elections and added it again as a site this fall because of its large size and ample parking, according to a representative of the commission.
Early voters can receive an “I Voted Early” sticker from the commission’s design contest with Milwaukee Public Schools. A Bay View High School student created the latest design, according to the commission.
On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
Check your polling place with your address here or on MyVote Wisconsin and remember to bring an acceptable type of 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 includes statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer. The U.S. representative of District 4 and multiple state representative and state senator positions also will be on the ballot.
Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita R. Ball and Milwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court Anna Maria Hodges are running for reelection as Democratic candidates in their current positions, but both are unopposed.
There also will be three Wisconsin constitutional amendments on the ballot.
Voters can find their ballot on My Vote Wisconsin.
To learn more 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.
More related stories from Wisconsin Watch:
Key questions with Wisconsin attorney general candidates highlight their stark differences
Poll workers
The city is seeking election inspectors, or poll workers, to work full-day or p.m. shifts. New applicants can apply online by Monday, Oct. 26 to ensure they have time to attend training and receive an assignment, according to a representative of the commission.
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
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