Vote Absentee
Who can request an absentee ballot in Wisconsin?
Any qualified elector who registers to vote is eligible to request an absentee ballot.
A qualified elector means:
*You will be 18 years old by election day,
*You are a U.S. citizen,
*Wisconsin law requires that you live at your current address for 28 consecutive days to be eligible to vote from your new address. If you have lived at your new address for less than 28 consecutive days before the election you are still eligible to vote from your former address. If you have moved to Wisconsin less than 28 consecutive days before an election you are eligible to cast a Presidential-only ballot.
*You are a convicted felon who is now "off paper"; i.e. your sentence is fully completed (including your probation or parole)
Under Wisconsin law, voters do not need a reason or excuse, such as being out of town on Election Day, to vote absentee. Any voter who prefers to vote by absentee ballot may request one. You have several options for requesting an absentee ballot and casting your vote.
We are recommending that voters request their absentee ballots for the rest of the year NOW.
Recent court rulings have impacted whether you can receive assistance in returning an absentee ballot. For questions about absentee ballots, contact your municipal clerk My Clerk
It is important that your witness FULLY COMPLETE all sections of the witness portion of the envelope in order for your absentee ballot to be counted, which means signature, full name, full address including house number, street name, city, state and zip code. To make sure your ballot is counted, contact the WisDems Voter Assistance Hotline at 608-336-3232and they will walk you through the process and answer any questions. To see a video on how to complete your absentee ballot, visit complete your absentee ballot. MAKE SURE YOU SIGN AND DATE YOUR BALLOT AND THAT YOUR WITNESS COMPLETES THE WITNESS PORTION OF THE ENVELOPE WITH THEIR FULL NAME, FULL STREET ADDRESS, CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE.
The rules for returning absentee ballots have changed. You can no longer use safe, convenient ballot drop boxes.
You must return your own ballot unless you are disabled. The federal Voting Rights Act ALLOWS voters with disabilities to receive assistance as long as the person helping them isn’t the voter’s employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union.
You can return your absentee ballot to your polling place on election day if you have not already done so.
For any questions about voting or if you have a problem voting, contact Wisdems Voter Protection Hotline at 608-336-3232.
Most Wisconsin voters now need to show an acceptable photo ID to vote. But for some absentee voters, and those with a sincere religious belief against being photographed, there are exceptions to the law that may mean you don’t need a photo ID.
The rules for absentee voters are pretty simple:
- If you’re in the military, live permanently overseas or are classified as a confidential elector, you don’t need a photo ID to cast your absentee ballot.
- There are also accommodations in the law for absentee voters who cannot make it to a polling place because they are indefinitely confined, or live in a nursing home or care facility. These voters do not need to show their photo ID, but other rules do apply.
Early In-Person Voting
Also known as In-Person Absentee.
All Kenosha Municipalities offer the opportunity to vote in person early. You can also register to vote prior to voting early in-person. To see a list of dates, hours and locations for early in-person voting in Kenosha County, visit the Kenosha County Clerk's website. This information is also available at Vote Absentee in Person
Military voters
Military voters have additional options for absentee ballot delivery.
Military personnel do not need to provide a photo ID with their request
Overseas Voters
There are two types of Overseas voters in Wisconsin:
Who is a “Temporary Overseas Voter”?
A U.S. citizen who is not disqualified from voting under Wis. Stat. s. 6.03, who qualifies as a resident of Wisconsin, and has attained or will attain the age of 18 by the date of an election at which the citizen proposes to vote. Temporary Overseas Voters are Wisconsin residents who are temporarily living outside the United States and who intend to return to Wisconsin.
Who is a “Permanent Overseas Voter”?
You are a permanent overseas voter if you are a U.S. citizen who last resided in Wisconsin, or your parent last resided in Wisconsin, before moving to a foreign country, and you have no intent to return to your prior municipality in Wisconsin.
Overseas voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their request.
Voting Absentee While In the Hospital
Hospitalized Electors should follow these steps to request their absentee ballot. Hospitalized electors may appoint an agent to retrieve and deliver their absentee ballot if they are hospitalized in the 7 days before Election Day.