Voters Encouraged to Vote Absentee for April 7 Election

Because of COVID-19, voters in Door County are strongly urged to act now to vote absentee for the April 7 spring primary election. 

Polls will be open in Door County for those who need them on Election Day, but most voters should vote absentee for this election. To do that, voters should request an absentee ballot as soon as possible. 

Acting by Wednesday, March 18, is especially important for anyone who needs to register to vote by mail. If your name or address has changed since the last election, you must register with your current information. Check your registration status by visiting MyVote Wisconsin (myvote.wi.gov) and clicking on “My Voter Info.” 

If you know you’re registered but cannot find yourself on the website, contact your municipal clerk, the county clerk’s office at 920.746.2200, or the Wisconsin Elections Commission at 866.VOTE.WIS (866.868.3947) or 608.261.8005. There is possibly an error in your date of birth or the spelling of your name. 

How to Register to Vote by the Deadline 

Wednesday, March 18, is the deadline for electors to register to vote by mail or online for the spring primary election. After this date, electors must register in person in the municipal clerk’s office or at the polling place on Election Day. 

According to state law, mailed voter-registration forms must be postmarked no later than the third Wednesday before the election. Online registration closes at 11:59 pm the same day. 

Online voter registration is available at myvote.wi.gov. There are two ways to register using the site: 

• People with a Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID card whose address is current with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation can complete their online registration immediately. People who need to update their address with DOT can accomplish that online, then complete their online voter registration. 

• People without a Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID card can fill out the voter-registration form online, then print it, sign it and mail it to their municipal clerk’s office along with a proof-of-residence document. The website has detailed instructions. If you do not have access to a printer, you can save the completed form as a PDF and make arrangements to have a copy center or a family member or friend with access to a printer print it for you. 

Voter-registration forms that can be printed and filled out by hand are available at elections.wi.gov/forms/el-131-fillable. Blank voter-registration forms are also available at your municipal clerk’s and county clerk’s offices during business hours. 

Remember: The deadline to register online or by mail is Wednesday, March 18. 

Voters who miss the deadline may also register in their municipal clerk’s office until the Friday before the election (April 3) or at the polls on Election Day. 

How to Request an Absentee Ballot 

There are several ways in which registered voters can request absentee ballots. The easiest way is to sign up at MyVote Wisconsin (myvote.wi.gov). 

Look for the “Vote Absentee” button near the top of the page. On a mobile phone, use the menu button in the upper-right corner of the website. There is a three-step process that starts with putting in your name and date of birth, followed by requesting your ballot. If you don’t already have a photo ID on file with your clerk’s office, you can upload a copy. Mobile-phone users can take a picture and upload it to MyVote Wisconsin. Absentee-ballot requests submitted this way go directly to your clerk’s office, and you can track your ballot by returning to the website. 

Voters can also request absentee ballots by mailing, emailing or faxing their municipal clerk’s office. Find your clerk’s contact information on myvote.wi.gov. These requests must be accompanied by a copy of your photo ID. If you already have a photo ID on file from previous absentee requests under your current registration, you will not need to provide it again. 

Voters who are indefinitely confined – meaning they have difficulty getting to the polls for reasons of age, illness, infirmity or disability – are not required to provide a photo ID. Voters in care facilities can have a representative of the facility confirm the resident’s identity instead of providing a photo ID. Find more information about photo IDs and exemptions at bringit.wi.gov. 

The deadline for registered voters to request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them is the Thursday before the election (April 2). However, Door County urges voters not to wait because of possible delays in mail delivery. If you get an absentee ballot mailed to you, you can still decide to vote at the polls on Election Day if you haven’t returned it. 

Your absentee ballot must be received in your clerk’s office or at your polling place by 8 pm on Election Day. Again, Door County urges voters to request and return ballots as soon as possible.