What to Know About Voter Registration Mailers
MADISON – As Election Day approaches on November 3, a wave of voter registration and absentee ballot mailings from third parties have begun arriving in Wisconsin residents’ mailboxes.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission advises voters that their best sources of information about voter registration and absentee voting are their local clerks and the state’s official MyVote.wi.gov website, not mailings from third parties, political parties or other voter advocacy groups.
As in previous election years, the WEC and municipal clerks around the state have started receiving questions and complaints about recent mailings on voter registration and absentee voting because they contain messages, and often errors, about a voter or the voting process, said Meagan Wolfe, Administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
“Ahead of major elections, voters frequently contact us with concerns about unsolicited election mailers,” Wolfe noted. “We encourage voters to scrutinize these materials carefully. We strongly advise voters to rely directly on trusted sources. For accurate and official election information, residents should visit MyVote.wi.gov or consult with their local municipal or county clerk.”
Third-party mailings also sometimes make registered voters think they are not registered to vote. In recent days, the Commission has begun receiving questions about mailings from Civitech and the Voter Participation Center. Some third-party groups are also sending pre-filled absentee ballot applications to voters.
None of these groups are sending materials on our behalf and the Elections Commission does not have any statutory authority over these groups or what they send. Any mailing or letter coming from the Wisconsin Elections Commission will be clearly identified as coming from our agency, including our official letterhead, logo, and/or the state seal. It will also include the Official Election Mail logo from the US Postal Service.
Voters who need to register, change their address, or request an absentee ballot should visit MyVote.wi.gov, Wisconsin’s secure voter services website. Voters who need to register for the first time, or need to update their voter record, are strongly encouraged to do so as soon as possible and not wait until Election Day.
“Voters can spend just a few minutes online at MyVote.WI.gov and see whether their registration is current and request an absentee ballot if they want to vote by-mail,” Wolfe said.
Using MyVote.wi.gov, people can fill out the registration form online and send it to the correct clerk’s address which the website will provide. Voters registering by mail must also send a copy of a proof-of-residence document, such as a driver’s license, utility bill or bank statement with the voter’s current address.
Key Takeaways:
- Check Wisconsin’s official voter registration portal at MyVote.wi.gov to check your registration status, find your municipal clerk, request an absentee ballot and more.
- You only need to update your registration if you have recently moved or changed your name since participating in the last election, or if you have not voted in four or more years
- Look for the WEC Official Election Mail logo on mailers to confirm authenticity: elections.wi.gov/voters/voter-information-center/voter-correspondence-mailings#4257225834-2457495682
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.
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