Register to Vote

Below you will find the information you need to vote in this year’s elections.

History of Suffrage

Information provided by the 99-2000 Wisconsin Blue Book.  

When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, suffrage was restricted to white or Indian males who were citizens of the United States or white male immigrants in the process of being naturalized.  These men had to be at least 21 years of age and Wisconsin residents for at least one year preceding the election.  In a referendum held in November 1849, suffrage was extended to male "colored persons".  In 1908, the Wisconsin Constitution was amended to require that voters had to be citizens of the United States.  Women's suffrage came with the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 (ratified by Wisconsin on June 10, 1919).  The state constitution was amended in April 1986 to be consistent with the 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified by Wisconsin on June 22, 1971, which lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

Because Wisconsin does not maintain a statewide register of voters, the exact size of the current electorate is unknown.  It is estimated that in 1998 there were 3,853,074 potential voters 18 years of age and older.  

VOTER QUALIFICATIONS
Before you can register to vote, you must meet the following qualifications:

Voter Registration

If you want to register to vote my mail, CLICK HERE to download the voter registration form.

Voter registration is required by law in every Wisconsin town, village or city with a population of more than 5,000 and may be adopted by local ordinance in smaller municipalities.  Voters may register by mail or in person with the municipal clerk or the county register of deeds.

Wisconsin law also permits registration on election day at the proper polling place (with proper identification), and municipal officials may designate other locations, such as fire stations or libraries for registration, or conduct door-to-door registration drives.  In addition, high school students and staff may register at public high schools or, in some cases, private high schools designated by the municipal clerk.  Voters registering in Wisconsin do not have to record a political party affiliation.

Absentee Voting

If you want to register as an absentee voter, CLICK HERE to download the absentee voter registration form.

A voter who cannot come to the polling place on election day, either because of absence from the municipality, sickness, handicap, military service, jury duty or religious reasons, may vote by absentee ballot.  Every request for an absentee ballot must be made in writing.