Safe. Secure. Counted! Make Sure Your Vote Counts in the 414 this Election Day

MILWAUKEE (Nov. 3, 2020) – Election Day 2020 is upon us, and the City of Milwaukee’s Election Commission is providing information on how voters can cast their ballot today.

“This is a monumental election,” said Mayor Tom Barrett. “The issues facing our city, state, and nation are incredibly important. And while I am pleased to report that more than 165,000 Milwaukeeans have already voted in this election, I would encourage the remaining eligible voters to please cast your ballot, either in person at your polling place or by returning your absentee ballot to a drop box. The City of Milwaukee has been preparing for months to ensure this election goes smoothly. Now it is up to Milwaukeeans to vote.”

“I am exceptionally proud of the work my staff has done to ensure this Election is safe and secure,” said Claire Woodall-Voggs, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission. “The ability to vote is a sacred right for Americans. As such, my pledge to my fellow Milwaukeeans is that my team and I have done all we can to ensure that your vote counts in the 414.”

Below is information on how Milwaukeeans can vote safely and successfully.

Polling Places

First, voters should determine the location of their polling place. Voters can go to this website, where they will be prompted to enter their home address. Once entered, the voter’s polling location will appear, along with information regarding parking, the main entrance, and accessible parking and entrance.

Registration

Second, residents should check their voter registration status by going here or calling 414-286-VOTE (8683). If individuals are new to Milwaukee, have had a name or address change, or have not voted in the past four years, they will be required to register. In-person registration is available on Election Day at all polling places and City Hall.

Please note, any person registering to vote and voting on Election Day must have lived at their current address for at least 28 days before the election with no present intent to move. To register, all voters must provide a document establishing their proof of residence that includes their current and complete name, their current and complete residential address, and a visible account or document number (if applicable). The proof-of-residence document must be from one of the following types:

• A current and valid Wisconsin driver’s license;
• A current and valid Wisconsin identification card;
• Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit;
• Any identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business and bearing a photo of the card holder, but not including a business card;
• A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election;
• A gas, electric or telephone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before Election Day;
• A bank, credit card, or other account statement issued by any financial institution;
• Paycheck;
• A check or other document or official correspondence issued by a unit of government (this includes official mail from a public high school or state college or university, such as MPS or UW-Milwaukee);
• A university, college, or technical college identification card (must include photo) ONLY if the voter provides a fee receipt dated within the last nine months or the institutions provides a certified housing list to the municipal clerk; or
• A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes the registration date.

In-Person Voting

The polls are open from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

To cast a ballot, all voters must present an acceptable form of identification. The following forms are acceptable for voting purposes, and can be unexpired or expired after the date of the most recent general election (currently, the Nov. 6, 2018 election):

• A Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license, even if driving privileges are revoked or suspended, with or without a star in the right-hand corner;
• A Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card, with or without a star in the right-hand corner;
• A Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card or driver license without a photo issued under the religious exemption;
• Military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service;
• A U.S. passport;
• An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin (may be used even if expired before the most recent general election); or
• A photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college that contains date of issuance, signature of student, and an expiration date no later than two years after the date of issuance (may be used even if expired before the most recent general election). If the university or college ID is expired, the student ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves current enrollment.

The following photo IDs are also acceptable for voting purposes, but must be unexpired:

• A veteran’s photo identification card issued by the Veterans Health Administration of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs;
• A certificate of naturalization that was issued not earlier than two years before the date of an election at which it is presented;
• A driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days);
• An identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days); or
• A temporary identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT through the Identification Petition Process (IDPP, valid for 60 days).

COVID-19 Precautions

Milwaukee polling places all have precautions in place to maximize voter safety. All voters will be required to wear a mask while at the polling place.

The Milwaukee Election Commission also recommends:

• Trying to vote mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when it is likely to be less crowded;
• Maintain a six-foot distance from others;
• Washing hands or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer; and
• Avoid touching one’s face.

Voter Accessibility

The City of Milwaukee Election Commission encourages persons with disabilities or testing positive for COVID-19 to vote by curbside voting. To do so, arrive at your polling location on Election Day and call 414-286-3963 for assistance.

Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes

If voters have obtained an absentee ballot, ballots may be returned by 7:30 pm on Election Day. Ballot drop boxes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, are anchored in concrete, and are monitored by security cameras. If voters have not returned their absentee ballot, they can still vote in person at their polling site. However, they cannot drop off their absentee ballot at their polling site.

Below is a list of absentee ballot drop boxes:

• Atkinson Library, 1960 W. Atkinson Ave.;
• Bay View Library, 2566 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.;
• Capitol Library, 3969 N. 74^th;
• Center Street Library, 2727 W. Fond du Lac Ave.;
• Central Library Centennial Hall, 733 N. 8^th;
• City Hall Complex, 200 E. Wells St. (on east side of Market St., between City Hall and Zeidler);
• East Library, 2320 N. Cramer St.;
• Election Commission Warehouse, 1901 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.;
• Good Hope Library, 7715 W. Good Hope Rd.;
• Martin Luther King Library, 310 W. Locust St.;
• Mitchell Street Library, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.;
• Tippecanoe Library, 3912 S. Howell Ave.;
• Villard Square Library, 5190 N. 35^th;
• Washington Park Library, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd.; and
• Zablocki Library, 3501 W. Oklahoma Ave.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.