2012 Wisconsin Voter Guide
Find Links on Where to Vote, Who's on the Ballot and More
MILWAUKEE - 2012 shapes up to be a critical year in Wisconsin politics, with elections for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, a possible gubernatorial recall election and much more on the horizon.
We've put together information and links to help you in your efforts to vote on Election Day when it comes to the following:
- Any voter ID requirements?
- Redistricting: Where do I vote? Am I registered to vote? Who is on my ballot?
- Same-day voter registration
- 2012 election dates
- Absentee ballots
- Provisional ballots
Laws recently passed by the Wisconsin legislature and Governor Scott Walker now require people to bring their Wisconsin-issued driver license or identification (or other acceptable identification) to the polls in order to vote.
However, a judge ruled that the such laws are unconstitutional, so as of March 27, poll workers will not require you to show such ID.
Should any legal action between March 27th and the April 3rd election bring about a reversal of that decision, and the Voter ID Law comes back into effect, such identification would be required and the following information about the Voter ID Law would go back into effect:
People who do not have such an ID can receive one for free from the Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles. (Click on the link to find locations.)
In order to receive the ID, people will need:
- Proof of name and date of birth (eg. a certified birth certificate, current passport)
- Proof of identity (eg. social security card or valid ID card with your photograph)
- Proof of citizenship or legal status (eg. certified birth certificate from somewhere in U.S.)
- Proof of Wisconsin residency (eg. employee ID w/employer name/address, pay stub with Wisconsin address, cell phone bill, bank account statement)
Click here for other examples of what you can bring to the DMV to receive a free ID card.
There are other possible exceptions to the new voter ID law. Click here for those.
Voters will also be required to sign a poll list at their polling place.
Where do I vote? Am I registered to vote? Who is on my ballot?
Click here to find your polling place and sample ballot via the Wisconsin GAB Voter Search page.
You can also use that link to look up your voter registration and who will be on the ballot when you vote.
If you are not registered to vote, however, you can also look up your polling place by address.
NOTE: The Government Accountability Board warns on its web site that "some users may see incorrect polling place information." It may be worth contacting your municipal clerk to double-check the information you see.
Wisconsin law allows people to register to vote at the polls. To do you, you need to go to your voting site and bring proof that you have lived at your current address for at least 28 days.
As of mid-March, these days will have elections in Wisconsin:
- April 3 (Spring general election and Presidential primary)
- May 8 (Recall primary elections)
- June 5 (Recall elections)
- August 14 (Fall partisan primary)
- November 6 (Fall general election)
More election dates could come with possible recall elections.
Voters must be eligible to vote before they can file an absentee ballot.
You can download the absentee ballot application, then turn it in to your municipal clerk by 5:00 p.m. Thursday before the election so that an absentee ballot can be mailed to you.
After filling in specifc instructions for absentee ballots (regular instructions/first time/military/non-military), people can turn in completed ballots to their municipal clerk before or on Election Day.
There are exceptions for military and overseas voters.
In some circumstances, potential voters who don't have the proper documentation to vote will be given permission to cast a provisional ballot.
Under those circumstances, the voter will cast a ballot, but that ballot won't count unless they provide required documentation to a poll worker on election day, or to a municipal clerk by 4:00 p.m. Friday after the election.
Click here for more instructions on provisional ballots.
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