Voter registration information is available on the Web site of Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board Elections Division [formerly known as the State Elections Board] at http://elections.state.wi.us, or the Dane County Web site at www.countyofdane.com/clerk/. Information on voting can also be obtained by calling your municipal clerk or the League of Women Voters of Dane County at 608.232.9447. To check individual voter registration status and polling place, as well as sample ballots, visit http://vpa.wi.gov.
Statewide Voting Information
Eligible voters are United States citizens age 18 or older who have resided in a municipality (city, village, or town) or ward within a municipality for 10 days before any election. Any persons convicted of treason, felony or bribery are not allowed to vote unless their civil rights have been restored. [In Wisconsin, civil rights are restored when their prison term and terms of parole or probation have been completed, known as being “off papers.”]
How to Register to Vote
Registration by mail occurs until the third Wednesday or 20 days before an election. To register by mail, print an Application for Voter Registration Form (Form GAB-131) from the Web site http://elections.state.wi.us. (Click on Forms & Publication, Election Day Voter Registration Manual & Forms, GAB131 Voter Registration Application). Complete and mail the form to your municipal clerk’s office. Be sure to include on the form your Wisconsin Driver License number. If you have not been issued a Wisconsin Driver License, you may provide your Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued I.D. card number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number. If you have never voted in Wisconsin before, a copy of proof of residence must accompany the application. Your municipality for voting purposes is where you actually live, not necessarily the same as your post office or phone.
Late registration in person at your city, town, or village clerk’s office can occur until 5 p.m. on the day before election. After 20 days before an election, since the clerk may not be able to get the voter’s name on the poll list, the late registrant will receive a certificate of registration to bring to the polls. Voters registering to vote in the clerk’s office during late registration need to present proof of residence to the clerk.
Address Change within Wisconsin: Registered voters with an address change from a different city in Wisconsin should complete a new GAB-131 form and submit it to their new city, town, or village clerk’s office. Changes of address within the same city should be reported to the city, town, or village clerk’s office.
Registration is also allowed at the polls on Election Day in Wisconsin. The new voter must show proof of residence and provide a Wisconsin Driver License number to register. Voters without a Wisconsin Driver License may provide the Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued I.D. card number, or the last 4 digits of your Social Security number.
How to Vote Absentee
Absentee ballots may be voted in person at your city, town, or village office, or currently registered voters may obtain an absentee ballot by mail from their municipal clerk. Absentee ballot requests must state your voting address within the municipality where you wish to vote, the address where the absentee ballot should be sent, if different from your voting address, and your signature. A reason for voting absentee is not required.
Absentee ballots are available 21 days before the spring primary and spring general elections and must be received in time to allow for delivery to the polling place before the polls close on Election Day.
Fitchburg
Qualified voters may register to vote and/or vote absentee, and registered voters may report address changes within the municipality, in person at the City Clerk’s office (5520 Lacy Rd.) during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* For polling place locations and for further information visit www.city.fitchburg.wi.us (Under Departments, City Clerk, Voting and Election Information) or call the City Clerk at 608.270.4200.
Madison
Qualified voters may register to vote and/or vote absentee, and registered voters may report address changes within the municipality, in person at the City Clerk’s office, room 103, City-County Bldg., 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., M–F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* Voters may also register to vote at any Madison Fire Station 7 days a week during reasonable hours or at any Madison Library during regular hours (Library hours announcement, 608.266.4811). For polling place locations or further information about voting visit www.cityofmadison.com/clerk (Under Voter Information) or call the City Clerk at 608.266.4601.
Middleton
Qualified voters may register to vote and/or vote absentee, and registered voters may report address changes within the municipality, in person at the City Clerk’s office (7426 Hubbard Ave.) during regular business hours, 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* For polling place location or further information visit www.ci.middleton.wi.us (Under Departments, City Clerk, Voting and Election Information) or call the City Clerk at 608.827.1050.
Monona
Qualified voters may register to vote and/or vote absentee, and registered voters may report address changes within the municipality, in person at the City Clerk’s office (5211 Schluter Rd.) during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.* For polling place locations or further information visit www.mymonona.com (Under City Government, Elections) or call the City Clerk at 608.222.2525.
Stoughton
Qualified voters may register to vote and/or vote absentee, and registered voters may report address changes within the municipality, in person at the City Clerk’s office (381 E. Main St.) during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* For polling place locations or further information visit www.ci.stoughton.wi.us (Under Departments, City Clerk/personnel, Elections & Voting) or call the City Clerk at 608.873.6677.
Sun Prairie
Qualified new voters may register to vote and/or vote absentee, and registered voters may report address changes within the municipality, in person at the City Clerk’s office (300 E. Main St.) during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* Voters may also register to vote at the Sun Prairie Library (1350 Linnerud Dr.) during regular business hours, M–Th. 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., F & Sat. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. For polling place locations or further information visit www.cityofsunprairie.com (Under Departments, City Clerk, Elections and Voting) or call the City Clerk at 608.837.2511.
Verona
Qualified voters may register to vote and/or vote absentee, and registered voters may report address changes within the municipality, in person at the City Clerk’s office (111 Lincoln St.) during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.* Voters may also register to vote at the Verona Public Library (500 Silent St.) during regular business hours, M–Th 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., F 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For polling place locations or further information visit www.ci.verona.wi.us (Under Elections, Election Information) or call the City Clerk at 608.848.9947.
Town of Madison
For information contact City Clerk, 2120 Fish Hatchery Rd., Madison, WI 53713, 608.210.7260.
Other Dane County Town and Village Municipal Clerks: For information visit www.countyofdane.com/election/clerks.aspx
*Municipal offices are required by statute to remain open until 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.