Absentee voting is available and no excuse is required. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 5 days before the election. Voted ballots must be received by Election Day in order to be counted. You can return your absentee ballot request form through mail, or in person at your local elections office. You will need an adult to witness your absentee ballot envelope in order to have your ballot counted. You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on your My Vote Wisconsin website. Absentee ballots start being counted on Election Day. Please contact the Wisconsin Election Commission for more information.

Who Can Request an Absentee Ballot?

Any qualified elector who registers to vote in Wisconsin is eligible to request an absentee ballot.

How to Request an Absentee Ballot

Online. You may request an absentee ballot online by visiting myvote.wi.gov and clicking “Vote Absentee”. This request must be made no later than 5pm on the Thursday before the election.

By Mail. Download the application, complete the form and mail it to your municipal clerk's office. The application must be received no later than 5pm on the Thursday before the election.

In Person. You may vote early in person – at the clerk’s office or another site designated by the clerk. Dates and hours for early voting may vary, though it can begin no earlier than 14 days before the election and ends no later than the Sunday before the election. Please contact your municipal clerk for absentee voting hours.

If you have not previously provided a copy of your photo ID, photo ID must accompany your application.

Military and permanent overseas voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their request.

Deadline for Returning Your Absentee Ballot

Your complete absentee ballot must be delivered no later than 8pm on Election Day. The US Postal Service recommends you mail your absentee ballot one week before Election Day to ensure it arrives in time. You may hand-deliver you absentee ballot to your polling place by 8pm on Election Day.

Permanent Absentee Ballot

Voters who are indefinitely confined, meaning they have a difficult time getting to the polls due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, may request that a ballot be automatically sent to them for each election. Indefinitely confined voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their absentee ballot request. Voters on the permanent absentee ballot list must vote in each election or they will be dropped from the absentee ballot rolls.

How to Vote in Person if Vote-by-Mail Ballot was Requested

Voters who requested an absentee ballot, but decide they want to vote in person may do so. Do not mail a ballot and vote in person. Registered voters may still vote early at their municipal clerk’s office OR in person at the polls on Election Day. Do not give your unused ballot to someone else.

What if you are in the hospital? 

Each hospitalized voter can request a ballot (in writing), and the voter may appoint an agent to pick up the ballot from the hospitalized voter’s clerk’s office.If you know you will be in the hospital, request a regular absentee ballot in advance.