Any registered voter in Wisconsin can request an absentee ballot. No excuse is required to vote absentee. You can request an absentee ballot online, by mail, or in person at your local elections office. The last day to request an absentee ballot is 5 days before the election.
Voted absentee ballots must be received by 8pm on Election Day in order to be counted. If you’re mailing your voted absentee ballot, please mail it at least a week in advance for it to arrive by Election Day. You will need an adult to witness your absentee ballot envelope in order to have your ballot counted.
WHO CAN REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Any registered Wisconsin voter is eligible to request an absentee ballot.
HOW DO I REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
You can request an absentee ballot online, by mail, or in person.
- Online. You may request an absentee ballot online by visiting myvote.wi.gov and clicking “Vote Absentee By Mail.” 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 end 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, your photo ID must accompany your application. Military and permanent overseas voters do not need to provide a photo ID with their request.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL?
The last day to request an absentee ballot is 5 days before the election.
WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BY MAIL?
Your marked 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 also hand-deliver your absentee ballot to your polling place or clerk’s office by 8pm on Election Day.
WHEN ARE ABSENTEE BALLOTS MAILED OUT TO VOTERS WHO HAVE REQUESTED THEM?
Absentee ballots are mailed 3 weeks before local (spring) elections and 47 days before national (fall) elections.
HOW DO I COMPLETE MY MAIL BALLOT?
Before you begin, line up a witness who can verify that you filled out your own ballot. Choose an adult US citizen who is not a candidate in the upcoming election.
Next, fill out your ballot carefully with a blue or black pen. Once your ballot is complete, place it in the certified envelope. Then seal, sign, and date the certificate envelope, and make sure your witness adds their address and signature.
If you make a mistake or change your mind about a selection, contact your municipal clerk's office for help.
HOW DO I RETURN MY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
You can return your absentee ballot by mail or in-person at your municipal clerk’s office or polling site. It must be received by 8pm on Election Day. Here are more details:
- Mail it back using the pre-addressed, postage paid envelope included with your ballot packet. USPS recommends mailing your ballot back at least 7 days before Election Day. Once your ballot is in the mail, you may not vote in person at the polls.
- Go to your clerk's office to drop off your ballot or vote in-person absentee. Your clerk might require an appointment or offer other in-person absentee voting locations, like your local library.
- Take it to your assigned polling place or absentee counting location on Election Day.
- Designate another person to deliver it for you. If it is too close to the election to mail your completed ballot, and you are not able to deliver your ballot because of a disability, you have the right to have someone else deliver your completed ballot.
Any voter who requires assistance with mailing or delivering their absentee ballot to the municipal clerk, or with any other part of the voting process, because of a disability must be permitted to receive such assistance. Voters are entitled to receive assistance from a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.
HOW CAN I TRACK MY MAILED ABSENTEE BALLOT?
You can sign up to track your absentee ballot on the My Vote Wisconsin website.
WHAT IF I REQUESTED AN ABSENTEE BALLOT BUT WANT TO VOTE IN PERSON?
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.
HOW DO I SIGN UP TO RECEIVE 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.
WHAT IF I AM 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.
HOW DO I REQUEST A BALLOT BY MAIL AS AN OVERSEAS OR U.S. MILITARY VOTER?
Overseas citizens and U.S. military personnel can find information on how to register to vote and request a mail ballot at the Overseas Vote Foundation.
Request your Ballot