Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Wisconsin’s free newsletter here.
This story was adapted from an article originally published July 28, 2026.
Wisconsin’s Nov. 3 midterm election is a month away, and absentee voting is already happening.
Voters will choose a governor, members of Congress and the state Legislature, statewide officials and local candidates, while also deciding three proposed constitutional amendments.
Whether you plan to vote early in person, by mail, or on Election Day, here’s everything you need to know about how to make your voice heard in November.
When is Wisconsin’s midterm election?
Election Day across the nation and in Wisconsin is Nov. 3, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m.
You can also vote early in person beginning as soon as Oct. 20, depending on your jurisdiction.
What offices are on the ballot?
The governor’s office is up for grabs, along with every Wisconsin Assembly and U.S. House district in the state, 17 state Senate seats, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, plenty of local offices and three constitutional amendments.
Click here for a full list of what’s on your ballot.
Who can vote in Wisconsin’s November election?
Any registered voter can cast a vote in the November election. You can click here to find out whether you’re registered.
What if I’m not registered to vote yet? Is it too late?
You still have time.
The deadline to register online or by mail is Oct. 14. After that, you can register at your local clerk’s office or at an early voting location through Friday, Oct. 30.
If you miss that window, you can also register at your polling place on Election Day.
Where is my polling place?
Click here to find your polling place. On Nov. 3, you must vote at the polling place assigned to your address. Your early voting location may be different.
Early voting schedules and locations vary by municipality, and you can contact your municipal clerk here to learn more. The League of Women Voters has also assembled a list of early voting sites in dozens of Wisconsin’s biggest municipalities.
What should I bring to vote?
If you’re already registered to vote, all you need to bring is an acceptable photo ID. That can include a driver’s license, passport, military identification card, a free Wisconsin ID issued for the purposes of voting, and several other options. Click here to view all acceptable IDs.
If you are registering to vote at the polling place, you’ll need to bring a proof of residence showing your name and current mailing address. That could include a Wisconsin driver’s license or other government ID, a residential lease, or a utility bill.
How does early voting work?
In Wisconsin, early voting is technically in-person absentee voting. It allows you to cast an absentee ballot before Election Day at your municipal clerk’s office or another location designated by your municipality.
The availability of early voting varies widely across the state. Some clerks offer it only by appointment. Some cities, including Madison and Milwaukee, operate multiple early voting sites that are open several hours a day. But by law, early voting can’t be offered later than the Sunday before the Nov. 3 election. After that, you must vote on Election Day.
Once you arrive at an early voting site, you must first request an absentee ballot and show an acceptable photo ID. You can then mark your absentee ballot in private. Let an election official know if you require assistance.
Your ballot is sealed in an absentee envelope, which must be signed by the appropriate election official, and is kept until it is counted on Election Day.
Can I vote absentee by mail?
In Wisconsin, you can also request that an absentee ballot be sent to you by mail.
The deadline to request absentee ballots is Oct. 29 by 5 p.m. for regular and overseas voters, and Oct. 30 by 5 p.m. for indefinitely confined and military voters. For your absentee ballot to count, it must arrive back at the clerk’s office by Nov. 3 at 8 p.m.
Don’t request and return your ballot by mail last minute if you have any other options. Mail delays have recently led to hundreds of absentee ballots getting delivered too late to count. If Election Day is approaching, clerks recommend dropping your ballot off at your local election office, a drop box, or an early voting location instead of mailing it.
What if I return my absentee ballot and then wish to change my vote?
Under current guidance from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, you can’t void an absentee ballot after you return it to an election official. That guidance is the subject of an ongoing lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court, but spoiling remains prohibited in the meantime.
That means — at least for this election — that your absentee votes are final once your ballot is in the hands of election workers. If you make a mistake while casting the ballot, though, or spill something on it, you can request a replacement from an election official prior to submitting it.
Who should I contact if I have trouble voting or have any questions?
Please contact your municipal clerk, whose information you can find here. Votebeat would also like to hear about any problems you notice and answer any questions you have. You can contact us at wisconsin.tips@votebeat.org.
If you have disability-related voting questions or concerns, you can also contact the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline at 844-347-8683.
If you run into a problem at the polls on Election Day or during early voting, legal assistance is available at 1-866-OUR-VOTE.
Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat based in Wisconsin. Contact Alexander at ashur@votebeat.org.
