How do I register to vote or check my registration?

Municipal Clerk (city, village, or town level - ~1,800 municipalities) / Wisconsin Elections Commission - WEC (state level)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Free ADVANCE REGISTRATION DEADLINE: 20 days before Election Day (online); Third Wednesday before election (in-person, 5 PM; mail, postmarked) ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION: YES - Wisconsin allows registration AND voting at polling place on Election Day; need proof of residence (property tax bill, utility bill, bank statement, lease, government document, Wisconsin ID) AND photo ID; excellent option CHECK YOUR REGISTRATION: myvote.wi.gov (Wisconsin MyVote portal) EARLY IN-PERSON ABSENTEE VOTING: No-excuse in-person early voting ("in-person absentee") at the municipal clerk's office beginning up to 14 days before primary or general elections through the Friday before the election; no excuse required; photo ID required NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE MAIL BALLOT: Any registered Wisconsin voter may request an absentee ballot; apply online at myvote.wi.gov; must include copy of photo ID; received by 5 PM 5 days before election; voted ballot must be received by 8 PM on Election Day; WITNESS REQUIRED - absentee ballot must be signed by a witness (18+) who also signs the ballot envelope; DROP BOXES: only available inside election offices (Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, July 2022) ONLINE OPTION: Yes - myvote.wi.gov (registration, absentee request, ballot tracking, polling place lookup) WHERE TO GO: myvote.wi.gov (online); municipal clerk's office; polling place (Election Day registration and voting)

Online Option

Yes - myvote.wi.gov (registration, absentee request, ballot tracking, polling place lookup)

Where to Go

myvote.wi.gov (online); municipal clerk's office; polling place (Election Day registration and voting)

Wisconsin Notes

Important state-specific details

ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION: Wisconsin's same-day registration is widely used and very convenient; bring proof of residence + photo ID to polling place.
NO-EXCUSE EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING: At municipal clerk's office up to 14 days before election.
ABSENTEE MAIL BALLOT WITNESS REQUIREMENT: Unusual among states; witness required for mail ballots; witness must sign the envelope; ballot rejected without valid witness signature.
ABSENTEE DROP BOXES: After July 2022 Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, drop boxes only allowed inside election offices; cannot be placed outside buildings.
FELONY VOTING RIGHTS: Cannot vote while serving ANY part of a felony sentence (incarceration, parole, probation, or extended supervision including "paper"); once completely off all supervision, rights automatically restored; must re-register to vote; misdemeanor convictions do not restrict voting rights; pretrial detainees CAN vote.
PHOTO ID REQUIRED for in-person voting and early voting AND absentee ballot applications: WI driver's license (even with suspended privileges), WI state ID card, military ID, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, Tribal ID, or student ID from a WI college/university with name, signature, photo, issue and expiration dates (issue date within 2 years of expiration date).
Polls open 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM on Election Day.

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

Wisconsin Elections Commission - elections.wi.gov | myvote.wi.gov | (608) 266-8005; Municipal Clerk (varies by city/village/town)