MADISON, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) — The Wisconsin Elections Commission compiled a list of things Wisconsin voters should know for the partisan primary Tuesday.
In the August primary, each political party narrows down its candidates for the November ballot. For this election, citizens may vote for candidates in only one political party of their choice.
1. The Wisconsin Elections Commission recommends all voters wear face coverings, but they are not required.
The WEC has developed public health guidance with the assistance of public health officials from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that face coverings are recommended for use by voters and poll workers on Election Day. However, the Executive Order issued by Gov. Tony Evers on July 30, that requires face coverings in certain situations does not apply to voters, but does apply to poll workers and election observers.
Voters cannot be refused a ballot for not wearing a face covering at the polls on Election Day.
“We are asking voters to observe social distancing inside and outside of polling places, and not to create disturbances about the wearing, or not wearing of masks or face coverings,” chief elections official Meagan Wolfe said.
2. Wisconsin polling places are prepared for voting during the pandemic.
The WEC has worked with the Wisconsin National Guard and Civil Air Patrol to deliver sanitation supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other necessary supplies to every county in the state for distribution to polling places. There is special signage at polling places with social distancing instructions.
The WEC has also provided clerks and poll workers with training on proper sanitation and social distancing procedures. Like April, National Guard members may be serving at your polling place, in civilian clothes as citizens of your local community.
There are procedures in place to allow for six feet between voters and poll workers to ensure a safe voting experience for everyone.
3. Voters who have not already mailed their absentee ballots back should make arrangements to drop them off by Election Day.
USPS advises that it can take up to one week for mail to be delivered, so voters who still need to return absentee ballots should drop them off at their municipal clerk’s office as soon as possible, Wolfe said. Some municipalities offer secure drop boxes.
Voters may deliver their absentee ballots directly to their normal polling place, but it must arrive before polls close at 8 p.m. Voters who return absentee ballots to their clerk’s office or a municipal drop box on Election Day should do so as early as possible, because the ballot must be picked up and delivered to the polling place by 8 p.m.
4. You may only vote for candidates of one party in the primary.
Unlike most other states, Wisconsin law gives voters the freedom to choose which political party’s primary they wish to vote in without having to register to vote with a party affiliation or designation. However, they may only vote within one party’s primary on the August ballot.
“If you vote for candidates in more than one party, your votes will not be counted,” Wolfe said. “But if you make a mistake, like voting for candidates in more than one party, when voting on Election Day, you may ask to spoil the ballot and cast a corrected one, up to three times.”
She said the “party preference” section at the top of the ballot is an important safeguard, especially for people who are voting by absentee ballot.
“Selecting a party preference is not required, but if you select a party preference, it ensures that your votes are counted for that party’s candidates if you accidentally vote for a candidate in another party,” Wolfe said.
5. You need an acceptable photo ID to vote and your ID for voting does not need to show your current address.
“If you are wearing a face covering, a poll worker may ask you to lower it momentarily if they need it to verify your identity when checking photo ID,” Wolfe said. “However, most voters should not need to remove or relax their face covering.”
The acceptable photo ID for voting does not need to show your current address. Wolfe said most voters already have the photo ID they need to vote, such as a Wisconsin Driver License or ID, and urged anyone with questions to visit the Bring It to the Ballot website (https://bringit.wi.gov) or call 1-866-VOTE-WIS for information.
A voter who does not have an acceptable photo ID must be offered a provisional ballot and the opportunity to submit a photo ID within three days after the election.
6. Voters can find their polling place on the mobile-friendly MyVote Wisconsin website.
May polling places have been changed for the partisan primary. The Wisconsin Elections Commission’s popular MyVote Wisconsin website, https://myvote.wi.gov, allows you to verify your polling place and provides directions to every polling place in the state, as well as information about what will be on voters’ ballots when they get there.
Voters can also check whether their registration is current. If it’s not, they can start the voter registration process online, print their filled-out voter registration form and bring it to the polls with them on Election Day so they can sign it in front of a poll worker.
Voters can also complete a paper registration form at their polling place.
Online voter registration, that doesn’t require the voter to print or sign a paper form, for the Nov. 3 General and Presidential Election resumes after the primary and runs through Oct. 14.
7. Your vote is secure.
Wisconsin’s election systems are secure thanks to the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s strong partnerships with federal and state agencies and local election officials.
“The WEC has found no evidence that Wisconsin’s election systems have ever been compromised,” Wolfe said. “We have taken extraordinary steps to ensure that our voter registration and vote-counting systems are secure.”
Additionally, polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. County clerk office websites throughout the state will provide unofficial election results in the evening.