Voting by absentee ballot is a convenient way to take part in the voting process. Find your municipal clerk’s office to learn about the in-person absentee voting hours and locations in your community. Interested in voting absentee by mail? To get started, you’ll need information about how to fill out your ballot, and successfully cast an absentee vote.
Election Notices from the WEC
Type A - Notices of Elections
The Type A Notice is an “announcement” that an election will occur in the near future. The Type A Notice lists the offices up for election and the current incumbents.
Type C Notices
The Type C Notice is different from the Type A Notice of Referendum. It includes the resolution that directed the referendum, as well as an explanatory statement which describes the effect of a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote.
A copy of the Type C Notice must be provided to municipal clerks for posting at each polling place on Election Day.
Recent Notices
Other Notices
The Type B Notice provides instructions to electors on the procedures for voting a ballot and also includes a sample ballot. These notices are not published by the WEC, but by Municipal and County Clerks.
Date of Publication
The Type B Notice is published the day before the primary and election, or if a weekly paper is used, in the closest preceding issue. The Type B Notice is also posted at the polling place on election day along with two sample ballots.
The Type D Notice is published for any regularly-scheduled* or special primary or election at which municipal, federal, state, county, municipal or school district or referenda appear on the ballot.
Date of Publication
The Type D Notice is published the day before the primary and election, or if a weekly paper is used, in the closest preceding issue. The Type D Notice is also posted at the polling place on election day.
The Type E Notice informs the public of the times and locations where absentee voting is conducted for any regularly-scheduled* or special primary or election at which federal, state, county, municipal or school district offices or referenda appear on the ballot.
Date of Publication
The Type E Notice is published on the 4th Tuesday preceding a primary or election.
Military and Overseas Voting Resources
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIV
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIV August 10, 2023 Contents Commission approves new envelope design Join us at WMCA Clerk Updates Clerk Feature: Ginny Dankmeyer Upcoming Dates & Deadlines New Absentee Envelopes are Approved! New absentee envelope designs were approved by the Commission in a 6-0
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIII
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIII July 27, 2023 Contents Elections 101 Award / Birthday Processing 4YM Postcards Clerks Coming and Going Unblocking emails from WEC Envelope Redesign Update Security TTX Reboot Clerk Feature: Jill Lau Upcoming Dates & Deadlines We WON! Video project takes NASED
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XII
Tracking Voter Turnout, Election Security Subgrants, Election Day Postcards WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XII June 29, 2023 Contents Wisvote WisVote Voter Records Revisiting Symbols of Our Democracy A+ for Accessibility Clerk Updates WEC on Tour Clerk Feature: Kaci Jo Lundgren Upcoming Dates &
Did military absentee ballot numbers unexpectedly decrease between 2020 and 2022?
The number of returned military absentee ballots did in fact decrease between the 2020 and 2022 General Elections. However, this decrease aligns with longstanding trends and follows a pattern dating to at least 2016. Determining the number of military members who voted absentee in an election is
Military and Overseas Voter Manual
This guide serves as a resource for clerks regarding the processes for military and overseas voting.
Badger Book Resources
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIV
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIV August 10, 2023 Contents Commission approves new envelope design Join us at WMCA Clerk Updates Clerk Feature: Ginny Dankmeyer Upcoming Dates & Deadlines New Absentee Envelopes are Approved! New absentee envelope designs were approved by the Commission in a 6-0
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIII
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XIII July 27, 2023 Contents Elections 101 Award / Birthday Processing 4YM Postcards Clerks Coming and Going Unblocking emails from WEC Envelope Redesign Update Security TTX Reboot Clerk Feature: Jill Lau Upcoming Dates & Deadlines We WON! Video project takes NASED
WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XII
Tracking Voter Turnout, Election Security Subgrants, Election Day Postcards WEC Newsletter Volume III, Issue XII June 29, 2023 Contents Wisvote WisVote Voter Records Revisiting Symbols of Our Democracy A+ for Accessibility Clerk Updates WEC on Tour Clerk Feature: Kaci Jo Lundgren Upcoming Dates &
Did military absentee ballot numbers unexpectedly decrease between 2020 and 2022?
The number of returned military absentee ballots did in fact decrease between the 2020 and 2022 General Elections. However, this decrease aligns with longstanding trends and follows a pattern dating to at least 2016. Determining the number of military members who voted absentee in an election is
Military and Overseas Voter Manual
This guide serves as a resource for clerks regarding the processes for military and overseas voting.
Voter Correspondence
Voter Correspondence
It's an even-numbered year, the weather is hot, and your mailbox is overflowing with political advertisements. You didn't sign up for this and you're wondering how they even got your address (read about that here). Since the 2010 Citizen's United v. Federal Election Commission ruling, campaign advertising has exploded. Some third-party mailpieces even include unsolicited election application forms and look like they are coming from an official source, which can raise suspicions and cast doubt on the election process (read about that here and here). We know that this deluge of mail can be frustrating, but please know that the Wisconsin Elections Commission and your local municipal clerk will only send you mail when it is absolutely necessary.
Look for the Official Election Mail logo!
The Official Election Mail logo is reserved exclusively for governmental election offices to use on correspondence with citizens of the United States for the purpose of participating in the voting process. Election officials may not always include this logo, but if you see it, you know that it is election mail – not political mail. The logo helps voters and letter carriers alike distinguish this official communication from the torrent of mail sent by candidates, PACs, and other advocacy groups.
The logo can be used on any sort of mail that enables voter participation like registration and absentee applications, balloting materials, polling place notifications, and other important messages. It should only come from a unit of government that administrates elections.
So what do we send?
The Wisconsin Elections Commission will only send you correspondence about your registration status or respond to requests that come from you.
Eligible, but Unregistered (EBU) Postcard
These postcards are sent every even year prior to a General Election. The people who receive this postcard have been issued either a driver license or state ID card from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) that could not be matched to an active voter record in WisVote. The postcard asks the voter to register or check their registration status on myvote.wi.gov. The postcard also includes a toll-free number which routes them to the WEC Help Desk.
These mailings are not tracked in WisVote and will not result in any voters being deactivated.
People who receive the postcard may choose to register by mail, at their clerk’s office, at their polling place on Election Day, or on MyVote.wi.gov. The postcard can be used as proof of residence (POR) if the name and address on the postcard match the information on the registration form.
- No action necessary if the card is returned undeliverable
- If voters inquire, direct them to registration resources, in-person, on paper or via MyVote.wi.gov
- If voters use this card as proof of residence (POR), mark the POR Type of “Other Government Document” and POR Entity of WEC in WisVote. It is not necessary to enter a POR Account # since there is no account or tracking number on the card
Voter Verification & Election Day Registration Postcard
These postcards are sent out to anyone that registers to vote by mail, online at MyVote.wi.gov, or on Election Day. They are sent as an additional registration verification mechanism.
If the information on the postcard is correct, then no further action is necessary. Voters should contact their clerk if they notice any inaccurate information.
- Review returned postcards for data entry errors. Update the voter registration if needed and have the WEC Help Desk send another verification postcard.
- Record all returned EDR postcards on WisVote
- Additional information is available in the WisVote manual Section 2.7 and in the EDR instructions.
Movers Notification Postcard
Postcards are mailed to Wisconsin residents who were identified as potentially moving in the previous quarter. Information from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the National Change of Address database and other states is used to generate these mailings.
The postcards are mailed quarterly and can be identified by the “Have you moved?” header. The Postcard directs the voter to affirm their current address if it has not changed or reregister at their new address.
Voters who have not moved may affirm their current address by signing and returning the postcard, visiting MyVote.wi.gov, or voting in the next election where they can confirm with poll workers that their address has not changed. Voters who have moved may reregister by mail, at their clerk’s office, at their polling place on Election Day, or on MyVote.wi.gov.
- Mark the Mail record if the postcard is returned (Mailings tile on WisVote)
- Send Undeliverable 30-day Notice letter as necessary (available on Voter Record-Letters)
- Additional information is available on WisVote News and in related Clerk Communications
4-Year Maintenance (4YM) Postcard
The Wisconsin Elections Commission sends these out in the odd-numbered years to voters who have not voted in the previous four years. Voters who receive this postcard can sign and return it if they want to stay registered to vote. If the clerk does not receive the response by July 15 of an odd-numbered year, the voter’s registration will be deactivated. Voters can reregister (if they still meet Wisconsin's voting requirements) online, by mail, at your clerk's office, and at their polling place on Election Day.
People who receive the postcard and want to keep their voter record active can sign and return it by the July 15 deadline. They may also choose to reregister by mail, at their clerk’s office, or at their polling place on Election Day, or on MyVote.wi.gov.
- Mark the Mail record if the postcard is returned (Mailings tile on WisVote) by the deadline
- If voters inquire, direct them to registration resources, in-person, on paper or via MyVote.wi.gov
- Additional information is available on WisVote News and in related Clerk Communications
Yes! When the SVDs visit, you can decline to vote your ballot and vote at an in-person absentee polling location before election day or at the polls on election day instead.
If you are registered to vote from the care facility (meaning you used the care facility address as your residence) AND that care facility is served by SVDs, your absentee ballot will be delivered by the SVD's or mailed to your mailing address if you are unable to vote during either SVD visit. Your family member is welcome to be in attendance when the SVDs visit and act as your assistant.
Rather than vote with the SVDs, you could vote at the polls on election day or vote absentee in-person at your municipal clerk's office or alternate site.
Alternatively, if you maintain a home outside of the care facility, you would be able to register to vote from that address and could apply to receive an absentee ballot with that registration.
If your Power of Attorney is a family member, they may assist you with registering to vote and voting your ballot* but they may not do those things on your behalf without your presence (Wis. Stat. 6.875(6)(c)1). Your Power of Attorney may request your absentee ballot on your behalf.
*If you are in a care facility served by SVDs, they will need to be in attendance during one of those visits in order to assist you.
What Voters in Residential Care Facilities Need to Know
SVD Voting is when special voting deputies (SVDs) come from the municipal clerk's office to a residential care facility to allow residents the opportunity to vote. Not all facilities are eligible for SVD voting so you may want to check with your municipal clerk to find out if yours is served by SVDs. SVDs only assist those residents who request assistance from them.
The SVDs will make two visits to your care facility so if you miss the first visit, you will have another opportunity to vote. If you miss both visits, the municipal clerk can mail your absentee ballot to the facility for you. Please contact your municipal clerk if you miss both SVD visits to ensure you still receive your ballot.
You may decline to vote when the SVDs visit. They have a form they will ask you to sign for their official records confirming you did not want to vote.
Getting Registered to Vote
You must be registered in order to vote absentee when the SVDs visit the facility*.
To register, you need a proof of residence document such as your care facility intake form, a residential lease, or check or document issued by a unit of government. These documents must contain your current name and current address.
You should only register to vote from the care facility if you are not there temporarily and have no present intent to return to your previous home
You can register to vote the following ways:
- On MyVote Wisconsin if you have a current and valid driver license or state ID
- On paper using the voter registration form (EL-131 link) and mailing it or having it delivered to the municipal clerk's office
*In some instances, the clerk may send/authorize an Election Registration Official (ERO) to register residents. If you know you need to register and would like assistance from the clerk's office, call your municipal clerk and see if they are planning to send an ERO with their SVDs.
If you need assistance getting registered, someone from the care facility, a family member, or friends (anyone except your employer or union rep) may act as your assistant and will need to sign in Section 10 on the registration form
Requesting a Ballot
In order for a care facility to qualify for a SVDs visit, there need to be at least 5 registered voters with active absentee ballot requests on file.
You may also request your absentee ballot one of the following ways:
- By email, using the MyVote Wisconsin website, if you have a photo ID, e.g., a WI driver license or state ID, US passport, etc.
- Using an absentee ballot request form (EL-121 link) or other written request to the clerk and submitting it to the clerk's office by mail, fax or email.
If your facility is already served by SVDs, you can request your ballot when they visit if you are already registered or if you are not, if it is during the open registration period and they sent an Election Registration Official (see above).
If you need assistance requesting your ballot, someone from the care facility, a family member, or friend may act as your assistant and will need to sign the Assistant Declaration/Certification section on the application form.
Photo ID Requirements and Exceptions
Most voters are required to provide an acceptable photo ID to request a ballot.
Many care facility residents qualify for exceptions:
-
If you are requesting your ballot from the SVDs when they visit, the signatures of the SVDs on the ballot envelope serves as the proof of identification.
-
If your care facility is not served by SVDs, a signature from care facility staff in section 5 on the ballot envelope serves as the proof of identification. You will need to let the clerk's office know your situation when you send in your application.
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If you consider yourself to be indefinitely confined under Wis. Stat. 6.86(2), meaning you are limited in your ability to leave the care facility due age, infirmity, disability or illness, you can check that box in Section 6 on the ballot application.
Voting by Mail
Request or Track your absentee ballot today!
Click here to continue to MyVote and request your by mail absentee ballot today. Already requested a ballot? Track your request to see that it's approved, your ballot is sent, and returned to be counted.
Voting by Absentee Ballot
Any qualified elector. A qualified elector is a United States citizen, 18 years of age or older, who has resided in the district in which he or she intends to vote for at least 28 consecutive days. The elector must be registered in order to receive an absentee ballot.
Note: Military voters are not required to register (submit an EL-131) in order to vote.
You can request an absentee ballot on myvote.wi.gov or make a request to your municipal clerk in writing, electronically, or in person (starting 14 days before the election) using the Application for Absentee Ballot or statement containing all the information required on the form.
Military and Overseas electors may also use the Federal Postcard Application (FPCA), which is a combination registration form and absentee ballot request.
Online and by mail: The request must be in the office of the municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the *5th day preceding an election.
In-person at the clerk's office: The last possible day for a clerk to conduct in-person absentee voting is the Sunday before the election. Each municipal clerk's office sets its own schedule for in-person absentee voting.
Note: A person cannot request an absentee ballot in person and leave the clerk's office with the ballot. The ballot is either voted in the clerk's office, or the clerk must mail the ballot to the elector.
- The deadline for indefinitely confined electors and military electors (not-away) to request an absentee ballot is the 4th day before the election.
- For a federal election, the deadline for military electors who are away from their residence due to active duty to request an absentee ballot is 5:00 p.m. on election day.
- Special provisions are made for hospitalized electors and sequestered jurors to request and vote by absentee ballot on election day. Wis. Stat. §§ 6.86(1)(b),(3)(a).
An absentee ballot must be sent by the following dates to any voter with an absentee application on file.
- 47 days before a federal election
- 21 days before a primary or other election. Wis. Stat. § 7.15(1))(cm).
- When a request for an absentee ballot is made by mail, the absentee ballot must be mailed to the elector within one day of the request.
- Voters requesting an absentee ballot in person must cast the ballot in the clerk's office. Voters cannot take the absentee ballot out of the clerk's office.
Special provisions are made for issuing absentee ballots to residents of a nursing home, qualifying retirement homes and community-based residential facilities. See our manual Absentee Voting in Residential Care Facilities and Retirement Homes.
Only military, permanent overseas, or temporarily overseas voter can request an absentee ballot to be sent to them by fax or email.
You can see what is on your ballot on myvote.wi.gov.
Where are you voting from?
Recent News
Aug 09 2024
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