By Lisa Aarli
Northside Action Team
To get ready to vote, make sure you are registered and that you have a valid ID for voting purposes.
Eligibility: To register, you must be a U.S. citizen; be at least 18 years of age on the date of the election; have finished serving your sentence, including probation/parole, if convicted of a felony (be off paper); be a resident of Madison at least 28 days before election day.
Voter Registration: Registration is open until 5 pm 20 days before an election. You may register at your local public library. Wisconsin requires 28 days to establish residency at a new address. When registering, you must present Proof of Residence, a document showing your current name at your current address. You may also register and vote on election day. Have proof of residence and a photo ID with you.
Proof of Address: When registering, you need to present (in paper or electronic format) one of the following, showing your name and current address: unexpired Wisconsin driver license/ID card; utility bill from the last 90 days; government-issued document or check; bank or credit union statement; paycheck stub. Visit the City of Madison Clerk website for a complete list.
Voter ID: When you vote, you must prove your identity. Your photo ID does not need to show a current address. Voters without ID may vote provisionally (meaning you can vote but then must produce your ID by the Friday after election day in order for it to be counted). Wisconsin accepts the following forms of ID for voting: Wisconsin driver license or ID; U.S. passport; military ID card; Certificate of Naturalization issued within the last two years; Wisconsin Tribal ID card; unexpired veterans affairs ID card; Wisconsin accredited university/college ID with issuance date, signature and expiration within two years of issuance along with proof of current enrollment.
If you do not have an acceptable ID for voting, the Dane County Voter ID Coalition can help you and can arrange a ride to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Their hotline is 608-285-2141; their website is voteridwis
consin.org.
MyVote.wi.gov: Register online if you have a valid, unexpired Wisconsin driver license or ID, and your address on file with the DMV matches the address at which you are registering to vote. If the DMV does not have your current address on file, update your address on the DMV website (wisconsindot.gov) before updating your voter registration at MyVote. Use the MyVote website to verify your registration and update your address; register online if your address is up to date with the DMV; look up your polling location; find out what will be on your ballot; request an absentee ballot.
Check the Madison City Clerk’s website for all voting information (cityofmad
ison.com/clerk/elections-voting/voting).
