With Wisconsinites heading to the polls for the statewide partisan primary on Aug. 13, and again on Nov. 5 for the general election, now is the time to brush up on your rights as a Wisconsin voter – and learn how Law Forward has protected these rights.
I’m a voter with a disability. What are my rights to have assistance voting in Wisconsin?
Federal law protects Wisconsin voters with disabilities. In Carey v. WEC, a U.S. District Court affirmed that voters with disabilities who need help to cast their ballots can receive such assistance. The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition hotline, 844-347-8683 / 844-DIS-VOTE, stands ready to answer all questions from voters who have a disability and need assistance voting.
I’m a college student in Wisconsin. What do I need to do to vote?
College students have the right to vote at the location where they live, work, and study (aka their college address). A university, college, or technical college ID card, which must include a photo, can be an acceptable proof of residence only if the voter provides a fee receipt date within the last 9 months or the institution provides a certified housing list to the municipal clerk. Moreover, a university, college, or technical college ID card, which must include a photo, can be an acceptable form of voter ID only if it has both a signature and an expiration date no more than two years from the date of issuance. If you’re wondering whether your student ID card will suffice, Common Cause Wisconsin maintains a list of campuses within Wisconsin and whether their student IDs are compliant with the voter ID requirements.
The 26th Amendment established a protected class – youth – and a protected class – age – with regard to ballot access. The Wisconsin constitution also offers strong protections of the right to vote, and a recent case (Werner v. Dankmeyer) in La Crosse County Circuit Court affirmed the rights of youth voters.
What does it mean to vote absentee in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin voters can vote absentee by mail or vote absentee in person (otherwise known as early voting).
In order to request an absentee ballot, you must be registered to vote.
If you are looking to register to vote, check your voter registration, or have questions about the requirements or deadlines for voter registration in Wisconsin, head to myvote.wi.gov. And remember – Wisconsin has same-day voter registration at the polls!
The right to vote by mail has been affirmed over and over again in court, most recently in LWVWI v. WEC and in Fabick v. WEC. Wisconsin has a long-standing tradition of fair and open elections, and preserving the right to vote absentee via the mail or voting early in person are parts of that tradition we help uphold.
Need help voting in Wisconsin?
If you have questions about voting before the election, contact your municipal clerk!
If you have any trouble voting, the ACLU of Wisconsin has a nonpartisan election protection hotline:
English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE / 1-866-687-8683
Español: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA / 1-888-839-8682
él: 1-844-YALLA-US / 1-844-925-5287
Other languages: 1-888-274-8683