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Wisconsin: Voter Guide
Voting Information // Wisconsin
Registration:
6/8

Automatic voter registration

Online voter registration

Pre-registration before turning 18

Number of days prior to election a voter must be registered is 15 days or less

Online voter registration closes 15 days or less before Election Day

Registration drives

Same day registration offered in all elections

Same day registration located at polling place

Same day registration offered only during early voting

Accessibility:
6/8

All mail voting

In-person early voting

Amount of early voting days is higher than 7

Election day is a state holiday

No-excuse mail voting

12+ hours of open polls

Paid time off work to vote

Time off work to vote

Requirements:
3/7

Felons can vote after incarceration with completion of sentence

Felons can vote immediately after incarceration

Felons can vote while incarcerated

No ID required to vote

Mental competency not required to register

Non-photo ID required to vote

Photo-ID required to vote

Upcoming Elections

There are no upcoming elections. Sign up for email or text notifications prior to important election dates.

Voting Qualifications

Not have been convicted of treason, felony or bribery, or if you have, your civil rights have been restore
Not be incapable of understanding the objective of the elective process or under guardianship
Be a resident of Wisconsin for at least 10 days
United States Citizen
18+ Years of Age

Deadlines

In Person - 
By Election Day
Mail - 
Postmarked 20 days before Election Day
Online - 
20 days before Election Day
In Person - 
Requested by 5 p.m. on the Thursday before Election Day
Mail - 
Requested by 5 p.m. on the Thursday before Election Day
Mail - 
Received by 8 p.m. on Election Day
In Person - 
Between 4 and 15 days before Election Day

More Information

In Wisconsin, voters may choose which party’s ballot to vote, but this decision is private and does not register the voter with that party. This permits a voter to cast a vote across party lines for the primary election.

Any registered Wisconsin voter may apply for an absentee ballot and vote by mail.


When requesting your absentee ballot, you must submit a copy of a valid photo ID with your request unless you are exempt from this requirement by statute (typically, certain military and overseas voters) or may have an alternative process to verify your identity. A list of valid IDs is available below.

If you are voting in person in Wisconsin (early or on Election Day), you must present valid photo ID at the time you vote. The following forms of ID are acceptable for voting purposes and can be unexpired or expired after the date of the most recent general election:

  • A Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended, with or without a star in the right-hand corner.
  • A Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card, with or without a star in the right-hand corner.
  • A Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card or driver license without a photo issued under the religious exemption
  • Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service
  • A U.S. passport
  • An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin (May be used even if expired before the most recent general election.)
  • A photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college that contains date of issuance, signature of student, and an expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance. (May be used even if expired before the most recent general election.)
  • If the university or college ID is expired, the student ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves current enrollment.
  • Free Wisconsin state ID card you can obtain here.


These photo IDs are also acceptable for voting purposes, but must be unexpired:

  • A veteran’s photo identification card issued by the Veterans Health Administration of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs
  • A certificate of naturalization that was issued not earlier than two years before the date of an election at which it is presented
  • A driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days)
  • An identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days)
  • A temporary identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT through the Identification Petition Process (IDPP) (valid for 60 days)


Important things to know:

  • There is no such thing as a “Wisconsin Voter ID Card.” The new Voter Photo ID Law uses existing photo IDs for people to prove their identity before voting.
  • The address on your ID doesn’t have to be current. And the name on your ID doesn’t need to be an exact match for your name in the poll book. (So, Richards who go by Rich, Bobs who are also Roberts, and Susans with IDs for Sue can all relax.)
  • Of course, there are certain requirements. Your ID should look like you. Even if you’ve colored your hair, shaved your beard or lost some weight, as long as your photo ID reasonably resembles you, it should be accepted.