Last updated:
Wisconsin absentee and mail ballot guide
Wisconsin absentee ballot overview
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your in ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
Wisconsin absentee deadlines
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received 5 days before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): The exact deadline various by municipality. Please contact your Wisconsin clerk to find out more. [Click here to find their contact information](https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Municipal-Clerk).
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day
Wisconsin absentee ballot rules
Any registered Wisconsin voter can request an absentee ballot and vote by mail.
Wisconsin online ballot request (recommended)
- Visit the Wisconsin absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is: 5 days before Election Day.
Wisconsin by-mail ballot request
- Download the Wisconsin absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- The deadline to apply by mail is: Received 5 days before Election Day.
Wisconsin in-person ballot request
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is: The exact deadline various by municipality. Please contact your Wisconsin clerk to find out more. [Click here to find their contact information](https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/My-Municipal-Clerk)..
After you receive your ballot
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a state-provided drop box. Please check with your local election office if your county has a drop box. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
Wisconsin absentee ballot ID requirements
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot: * Online applications: you will need to upload a photo of your ID if you are voting in Wisconsin for the first time. Acceptable forms of ID include any ID issued by the State of Wisconsin or the Federal Government, or a non-expired student ID card issued by an accredited Wisconsin college or university. * Paper applications: you will need to include a photocopy of your ID if you are voting in Wisconsin for the first time. Acceptable forms of ID include any ID issued by the State of Wisconsin or the Federal Government, or a non-expired student ID card issued by an accredited Wisconsin college or university.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot: Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected. You must also have your voted ballot signed by a witness who is at least 18 years old.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Wisconsin elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Wisconsin Elections Commission 212 East Washington Avenue, Third Floor P.O. Box 7984 Madison, WI 53707‐7984
External resources
- Wisconsin online voter registration
- Wisconsin online absentee ballot request
- Wisconsin voter status lookup
- Wisconsin absentee ballot tracker
- Wisconsin provisional ballot tracker
- Wisconsin polling place locator