Wisconsin’s partisan primary is Tuesday, Aug. 9, which means it’s time for you to help narrow the field for your particular political party. It’s also the perfect time to make sure all your voter information is in order prior to the general election Nov. 8.
Wherever you live in the state, My Vote Wisconsin is always a helpful place to start because of the easy-to-use tools on the website, including:
- Check your registration
- Find where to vote
- View a sample ballot
- Request an absentee ballot (deadlines: Aug. 4 for regular and overseas voters; Aug. 5 for indefinitely confined and military voters)
- Learn how to vote in-person absentee
If you’re not registered yet, you can register at your polling place on election day. The website has a step-by-step process to help you create the form you need, as well as information about the proof of residence that’s required to register on the day of the election.
Whether you registered ahead of time or plan to register on election day, you must bring a photo ID to your polling place when you vote. The Bring It to the Ballot website has lots of helpful information to help you fulfill this requirement, including what forms of ID are accepted and how to get a free state ID card.
Another important thing to remember: the state requires your employer to give you up to three successive hours so you can vote on election day. According to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, you must notify your employer before election day, and your employer gets to decide when you’re excused to vote. Your employer is allowed to deduct the time lost from your pay but “may not in any other way discipline or penalize the employee for this absence.”
While the voting process is easier for some people than others, hopefully the information available online will help make it as easy as possible for you.
