Registered voters in Wisconsin will decide nominations for congressional, state legislative, and local offices in the partisan primary election on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time across the state’s 72 counties for in-person voting.
To vote absentee by mail, registered voters must have requested their ballot by Thursday, August 6, and completed ballots must be received by municipal clerks no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day. The Wisconsin Elections Commission reported that over 600,000 absentee ballots were requested for this primary as of late July.
According to Megan Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, Voters should verify their registration status and polling place location well before Election Day to avoid any last-minute issues.
First-time voters registering by mail must submit their registration form with proof of residence by Wednesday, August 5. In-person registration is available at municipal clerks’ offices until Friday, August 7, and at polling places on Election Day with acceptable proof of residence.
Wisconsin’s voter ID law requires voters to show an acceptable photo identification such as a Wisconsin driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, or passport when voting in person. Absentee voters must include a copy of their photo ID with their ballot unless they are indefinitely confined, a military voter, or overseas citizen.
Voters can find their polling place, check registration status, and view sample ballots using the MyVote Wisconsin website at https://myvote.wi.gov. Municipal clerks’ offices handle absentee voting and can provide assistance with voting access questions.
Wisconsin Primary Election Voting Procedures
Military and overseas citizens have until 5 p.m. on August 11 to submit absentee ballots electronically or by mail, with different deadlines applying based on location. Hospitalized voters may request an emergency absentee ballot through their municipal clerk on Election Day.
After the primary, the winners of each party’s nomination will advance to the general election ballot on November 3, 2020. Voters who participate in the partisan primary must choose one party’s ballot and cannot vote in more than one party’s section.
Key questions
- What is the deadline to request an absentee ballot for Wisconsin's August 11 primary?
- Registered voters must request an absentee ballot by Thursday, August 6, 2020, for the Wisconsin August 11 primary. Completed ballots must be received by municipal clerks no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
- Can I register to vote on Election Day for Wisconsin's August 11 primary?
- Yes, Wisconsin allows same-day voter registration at polling places on Election Day, August 11, 2020. Voters must provide acceptable proof of residence, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement showing their current address.
