BadgersVote
In collaboration with the Associated Students of Madison
Photo of a Wisconsin voter registration application form sitting on a table next to a bookmark with the words Big Ten Voter Challenge.

Register to vote in Wisconsin

Who is eligible to vote in Wisconsin?

You are eligible to vote in Wisconsin if you:

  • Are a U.S. citizen;
  • Will be 18 years of age on or before Election Day;
  • Have resided in Wisconsin for at least 28 consecutive days before Election Day; AND
  • Are not currently serving a felony sentence, including probation/parole.

Note: You can only vote once per election cycle, in one location. You cannot vote in Madison AND a separate home district.

Do I need to register or re-register?

If you’ve voted before and you’re living at the same address as the last time you voted (including apartment number), you should already be registered.

Check your registration in Wisconsin

You will need to register or re-register if:

  • You are a first-time voter;
  • You have moved to a new address (or even changed apartment numbers) since the last time you voted; or,
  • You have changed your legal name since the last time you voted.
Photo of a sign printed in black ink on white paper. The sign has a City of Madison crest at the top and reads Voter Registration and Voter ID Information.

What documents do I need to register?

To register to vote in Wisconsin, you will need documentation that proves your place of residence in Wisconsin. Below are acceptable ways to prove your current address.

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I have a Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin ID card

Your Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin ID card is a valid form of identification to register to vote if it shows your current address, including apartment number.

If you have a Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin ID card that is current and valid, you’re all set! You will need to provide your card number and expiration date when registering.

If your Wisconsin driver license is revoked, suspended, or expired, or your Wisconsin ID card is expired, you will need to provide the card number and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

I need to use a different form of ID

To register without a Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin ID card showing your current address, you will need to provide:

  1. The last four digits of your social security number; and
  2. One of the following forms of ID that shows your current name and current address:
    • An electronically-displayed or printed Voter Enrollment Verification Letter from the Office of the Registrar. (Guest and Special Students are not eligible for the voter enrollment letter.) Read more about this topic.
    • A current residential lease. (You cannot use a lease as proof of address if registering by mail.)
    • A UW–Madison or Edgewood College ID card with a photograph of the cardholder, accompanied by a fee statement for the current semester.
    • A printed copy of your current bursar’s statement.
    • A utility bill for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before the election. A printed copy of an online bill is acceptable.
    • A paycheck.
    • A bank, credit union or credit card statements. A printed copy of an online statement is acceptable.
    • A check or other document issued by a unit of government, including the University of Wisconsin.
    • An official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
    • An identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business, which has a photograph of the cardholder, but not a business card.
    • A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election.

 

I'm ready to register in Wisconsin. What are my options?

There are a few different ways to register to vote in Wisconsin. The one you choose will depend on how far away Election Day is and what type of voter ID you will be using.

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I'm voting in Madison, and there are more than 20 days until Election Day

If there are more than 20 days before Election Day, you can register:

I'm voting in Madison, and there are fewer than 20 days until Election Day

If there are fewer than 20 days before Election Day, you can register until the Friday before Election Day:

If it’s Election day:

I'm voting elsewhere in Wisconsin

Students who live in other Wisconsin municipalities outside of Madison need to contact their municipal clerks for information. They will have to register with their local clerk’s office by mail (if registering more than 20 days in advance), in-person at their clerk’s office, or at the polls. They can get the contact information through MyVote.wi.gov or on the Dane County Clerk’s website.

The BadgersVote Coalition is a non-partisan, educational initiative of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, whose mission is to equip students with the knowledge and resources necessary to be active participants in democracy. For more information on Wisconsin elections and voting, visit the Wisconsin Elections Commission.