Wisconsin voting issues

Election and registration information

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 * Wisconsin - Look up your Voter Registration

Same-day registration
In Wisconsin you may register at the polling place on election day.

If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must bring proof that you have lived at your present location for at least 10 days preceding the election. For purposes of voter registration, acceptable forms of proof of residence (see ID requirements below) must include:


 * 1) A current and complete name, including both the given and family name; and
 * 2) A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality.

ID requirements
Documents you can use as proof of residence include:


 * a current and valid Wisconsin driver’s license.
 * a current and valid Wisconsin I.D. card.
 * any other official I.D. card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit.
 * any employer-issued photo I.D. card, issued in the normal course of business, but not including a business card.
 * a university, college or technical college fee card or I.D. card with your photo and current address. **
 * May be used even if the card does not contain the cardholder’s address, if the educational institution provides a certified student list for use at the polling place


 * a utility bill (e.g., gas, electric, cable TV or telephone) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day.
 * a bank statement
 * a real estate (i.e., property) tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election
 * a current residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day (NOT for first-time voters registering by mail, however).
 * a pay check or a government check or other document issued by unit of government.

Whatever form of proof you supply must contain a complete name, including both the first and last name; and a current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of a municipality. Forms which have an expiration date must be valid on election day in order to constitute acceptable proof of residence at that election.

If you don’t have written proof, bring a friend (with identification) who lives in the same municipality. This person can serve as a corroborator (witness) to verify your address. He or she does not need to be a registered voter but must provide proof of residence, which must be in the same municipality.

If you cannot provide the required proof of residence and are not able to provide a state issued ID or ID number for verification you can cast a provisional ballot. You can then bring in ID before deadline, and the vote is counted.

Provisional voting
If your name does not appear on the voter list at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application before you will be allowed to vote. If you cannot provide the required proof of residence and are not able to provide a state issued ID or ID number for verification you can cast a provisional ballot. You can then bring in ID before deadline, and the vote is counted.

The provisional ballot is counted if the voter provides the election authority with his/her driver’s license number, either in person or via telephone, fax, or email before 4:00pm on the day after the election.

Voting Machines used November, 2008 in Wisconsin
Wisconsin uses the following voting machines in addition to hand-counted paper ballots in some counties. For a county-by-county list of the specific machines (and the source for this section) see Verified Voting's Verifier tool.

Paper ballot marking machines with electronic interface:
 * Election Systems & Software's AutoMARK Technical Systems AutoMARK VAT
 * Populex Digital Paper Ballot
 * Vote-PAD's Vote-PAD Ballot Marking System

Direct-Recording Electronic (DRE) machines with a paper trail:
 * Election Systems & Software's iVotronic
 * Premier Election Solutions's Diebold AccuVote TSx
 * Sequoia AVC Advantage
 * Sequoia AVC Edge II

Optical scan machines:
 * Election Systems & Software's ES&S Model 100
 * Election Systems & Software's ES&S Model 150
 * Election Systems & Software's ES&S Model 400
 * Election Systems & Software's ES&S Model 550
 * Premier Election Solutions's Diebold AccuVote (including Diebold AccuVote ES-2000)
 * Premier Election Solutions's Diebold AccuVote OS
 * Sequoia Optech III-P Eagle, also sold by Election Systems & Software
 * Sequoia's Optech Insight

Governmental election authorities
Government Accountability Board

Contact information:
 * Elections Division - Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
 * 17 West Main Street, Suite 310
 * PO Box 2973
 * Madison, Wisconsin 53701-2973
 * Phone: 608-266-8005  FAX:  608-267-0500
 * [mailto:gab@wi.gov gab@wi.gov]

Elections Division Voter Information
 * Find Voter and Poll Information
 * Voters' Frequently Asked Questions
 * Find Resources for Voters with Disabilities
 * Non-English Voter Information
 * Become a Poll Worker
 * File a Complaint
 * Confidential Listing for Protected Voters Information

State and local non-governmental organizations
Fair Elections Wisconsin

Website: http://www.fairelectionswi.com/

Contact information:


 * Fair Elections Wis
 * Box 1122, Madison 53703
 * [mailto:malischke@yahoo.com malischke@yahoo.com]

League of Women Voters

LWV of Wisconsin, Melanie Ramey, President
 * 122 State Street, Suite. 405
 * Madison, WI 53703-2500
 * Phone: 608-256-0827
 * Fax: 608-256-2853
 * E-mail: lwvwisconsin@lwvwi.org
 * http://www.lwvwi.org

Local Leagues:
 * Appleton
 * Ashland-Bayfield County
 * Beloit
 * Columbia-Sauk
 * Dane County
 * Door County
 * Fond Du Lac
 * Greater Green Bay
 * Janesville
 * Kewaunee County
 * La Crosse Area
 * Manitowoc County
 * Milwaukee County
 * Neenah-Menasha
 * Oshkosh
 * Ozaukee County
 * Platteville Area
 * Pierce-St. Croix
 * Ripon Area
 * Stevens Point Area
 * Whitewater Area
 * Wisconsin Rapids

External resources

 * Student Voting Project Wisconsin a Brennan Center for Justice explanation of student voting rights in Wisconsin.

Voter Protection Laws in A Nutshell
 * Wisconsin Voter Protection Laws in A Nutshell

Other resources
 * Wisconsin Vote has a number of valuable resources for Wisconsin voters, including links to information on how to register and where to vote.