Student Voting Guide

For a complete list of voter eligibility requirements, visit the G.A.B. Voter Eligibility Guide. Among the requirements for voter eligibility in Wisconsin, all voters must be U.S. citizens who will be at least 18 years old on Election Day and who will have resided in Wisconsin for at least 28 days prior to the election. For specific guidance on residency requirements for UW students, see I’m a College Student.

If any of the following statements describe you, you need to register to vote before you can cast a ballot:

• I have never registered to vote in Wisconsin.
• My address has changed since the last time I voted.
• My legal name has changed since the last time I voted.

To check your current voter registration status in Wisconsin, visit My Vote Wisconsin.

You can begin the registration process on-line at My Vote Wisconsin, which will also help you determine which district and ward you should vote in. You can find more information about registration at G.A.B.’s Voter Registration Guide. Deadlines. You can find important registration deadlines for each regularly scheduled election at G.A.B.’s Voter Registration Deadlines. Proof of Residence. Note that all Wisconsin voters must provide proof of residence to register to vote. All UW system institutions provide student voter enrollment verification forms. The G.A.B. has recognized that these forms serve as proof of residence for registration. UW System schools are no longer able to provide housing lists. Registration Form. You can get a copy of GAB-131, Voter Registration Form at G.A.B.’s Forms – Voters page.

You can begin the absentee voting process on-line at My Vote Wisconsin, which will also help you locate your municipal clerk and show you a sample ballot. You can find more information about absentee voting at G.A.B.’s I want to vote absentee page. Deadlines. You can find important absentee ballot deadlines for each regularly scheduled election at G.A.B.’s Absentee Ballot Deadlines. Ballot Forms. You can get a copy of GAB-121, Application for Absentee Ballot at G.A.B.’s Forms – Voters page.

To determine in which district or ward you should vote in, visit My Vote Wisconsin.

• If you wish to register or vote at the polls on election day, use the following websites to find your polling place. You can find your polling place by either searching for your voter registration record or by searching for your address on My Vote Wisconsin
• For information on voting absentee.
• Absentee ballots are issued by your municipal clerk. To find your municipal clerk’s information, please visit, My Vote Wisconsin. You can find your municipal clerk’s information by either searching for your voter registration record or by searching for your address.

You can find more information about the deadlines for voter registration and voting by visiting:

• Registration deadlines
• Absentee deadlines

Please remember that you must be able to meet the following three requirements** regarding the district or ward in which you wish to vote and/or register to vote:

• I have resided in that district or ward for at least 28 consecutive days before Election Day
• I have no present intent to move to a different district or ward
• Whenever I leave that district or ward, I intend to return to it for study, work, family, or other reasons*

*For more information on student residency scenarios, please visit the G.A.B.’s Student Residency Guide. ** If you are a qualified military or overseas voter, please note that different rules may apply to you than as described in this guide. Please consult the G.A.B. website for further information about military or overseas voting:

• Military Voting
• Overseas Voting
• Military and Permanent Overseas voters are encouraged to use My Vote Wisconsin to request and receive and absentee ballot.

If you encounter problems at the polls on Election Day, you should first talk to the Chief Inspector of your polling place. You can ask a poll worker to help you identify the Chief Inspector. If the Chief Inspector cannot resolve your issue, you should then contact your municipal clerk. Finally, if your issue requires further resolution, please contact the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. If someone challenges your eligibility to vote, that person has the responsibility to prove that you are ineligible to vote beyond a reasonable doubt. See Wis. Stat. § 6.325. To learn more about your rights and responsibilities as a voter, visit the G.A.B. Wisconsin Guide to Voter Rights and Responsibilities. If you encounter problems voting, G.A.B. has provided helpful guidance for specific concerns on their FAQ page. If one of the following two statements applies to you, you will be required to vote with a provisional ballot.

• I am a first-time voter who registered by mail and has failed to provide the required proof of residence.

• I am registering to vote on Election Day and have a Wisconsin Driver License, but I am unable or unwilling to list my Wisconsin Driver License number on my voter registration application.

If you vote provisionally, you will have to provide additional documentation to the polling place where you voted by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day or to the municipal clerk’s office by 4:00 p.m. on the Friday after the election. You can find more information on provisional voting in the following links.

• Provisional Voting
• Provisional Voting Instructions for Voters
• Election Day Voting – Photo ID