Voting in the 2024 Wisconsin Spring General Election is now underway! All Wisconsin voters can choose one of three ways to cast their ballot:

1. At your polling location on April 2nd,
2. With an absentee ballot by mail,
3. Or in person by absentee ballot at your clerk’s office or other officially designated area (aka “early vote”) which is available now.

Remember every election matters, and state and local races have a direct impact on your daily life. These races may include elections for City Council, Village President, Judges, School Board, Mayor, and County Supervisors and others. (Find out what is on your ballot at MyVote.wi.gov).The more local the election, the more likely the people elected may live in your neighborhood. Your vote matters greatly in our state and local elections.

Also, you should know there are two statewide ballot questions that will make changes to our state’s constitution if they pass (and we think they should be rejected with a no vote). You can read the wording of these questions and more about why they should not be supported in a previous post from CCWI.

A few other things to know:

Register to Vote: You must be registered to vote to cast your ballot in the April 2nd Spring Election. You can register with your municipal clerk before Election Day or if you vote by absentee ballot during “early voting.” Or, in Wisconsin, you can register at your polling location on Election Day before you vote.

Bring Your Voter-Compliant Photo ID When You Go to Vote: Visit BringIt.wi.gov for more information about the types of ID that can be used to vote. Here, you can also learn about how to get a free ID to use for voting.

How to request an absentee ballot by mail: Go to MyVote.wi.gov and make a request to your municipal clerk for your absentee ballot to be sent to you by mail. In Wisconsin, any registered voter can vote absentee – no excuses needed. Request your ballot for the April election TODAY. The sooner you make your request, the more likely you are to receive and be able to send back your ballot in time for it to be counted. Be sure to follow the instructions when filling out your ballot and double check to make sure the ballot envelope is complete, including your witness’s name and complete address. Remember, if you return your ballot in person, you must return your own ballot! However, voters with disabilities can have assistance when returning a ballot. (More information from the Wisconsin Election Commission.) If you still have your mailed ballot, please return it today.

How to Vote In Person by Absentee Ballot: You can also go to MyVote.wi.gov to get information about in person voting by absentee ballot (aka “early vote”) including dates, times, and locations. Your municipal clerk’s office will also have this information.

On Your Ballot: Get to know who wants to represent you and which candidates best represent your values before you vote. Find candidate and ballot information from the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin at Vote411 including ballot referenda that you answer with a yes or no vote. Many local papers across the state will also publish candidate interviews prior to the election.

Wisconsin’s younger and relatively new voters should be preparing to vote too. Here is important information from the Common Cause Wisconsin website to share: Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin

Have questions or need some assistance? Beyond the resources of your municipal clerk, help is just a call, text, or email away!

• Voters with disabilities have the right to an accessible polling place, including using an accessible voting machine, getting assistance marking a ballot, and using curbside voting. Call the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline for assistance: 1-844-347-8683. Or email: info@disabilityvote.org. Additional online resources are also at the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition website.

• Call or text Election Protection at 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) for support from nonpartisan election protection volunteers with questions or to report problems.

Take the time to make a plan to vote in this Spring Election! Return your mailed absentee ballot, fill out your ballot early in person, or go to the polls on Election Day, April 2nd. There is action you can take today to ensure you’re ready to cast your ballot and your vote is counted.

The 2024 elections – particularly in Wisconsin – are among the most consequential elections in our lifetime for all of the obvious reasons that you and I know about and understand. Use this Spring election to exercise your voting muscle (and vote against those two constitutional amendment ballot questions) to be in shape for the all-important election ahead in November.

On Wisconsin!