Your Vote Matters — Here's How to Use It
Wisconsin Election on August 11!
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Why This Election Matters
August 11 is your chance to vote for candidates who fight for every Milwaukee child.
Nearly 1 in 2 Milwaukee students are educated outside of MPS. 60% of Wisconsin voters support school choice.
On August 11, choose candidates who will protect and expand quality education options for every family — regardless of where they live or where their child goes to school.
What’s On the Ballot?
On August 11, you're choosing who will represent your party in November — for some of the most important offices in Wisconsin.
The August 11 primary determines which candidates from each party advance to the November 3 General Election.
WISCONSIN HAS OPEN PRIMARIES
This means that voters don't register with a party in order to vote in the primary election. Voters choose which party's primary they want to vote in when completing their ballot.
WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT
When voting in the primary you will need to choose a party and can only vote for candidates in that one party. If you vote for candidates in multiple parties, your votes will not count.
Races on the August 11 ballot (statewide)
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General
Secretary of State
State Treasurer
U.S. House of Representatives (all 8 Wisconsin districts)
Wisconsin State Senate — odd-numbered districts (17 seats)
All 99 Wisconsin State Assembly seats
Note: only races with more than one candidate per party appear on the primary ballot — check your sample ballot at myvote.wi.gov to see exactly what's on yours.
⚠️ This is a partisan primary — you can only vote for candidates in ONE political party. Wisconsin is an open primary state, so you don't need to be registered to vote with a party, but once you pick a party's ballot, you can only vote in that party's races. Voting across parties may void those votes.
Key Deadlines
Register to Vote by Mail/Online
July 22
Early Voting
July 28 – Aug 9
Request Absentee Ballot
by Aug 6
Register to Vote In Person
Up to Aug 11
Election Day Polls Open
7am – 8pm
How to Register to Vote
Register to Vote Online
Deadline: July 22
Visit myvote.wi.gov and use the online voter registration tool. Must be completed by July 22, 2026. You'll need a Wisconsin driver's license or state ID number, and proof of residence.
Register to Vote by Mail
Deadline: Postmarked July 22
Download and mail a voter registration form to your municipal clerk. Must be postmarked by July 22. Include proof of residence.
Register to Vote at the Clerk's Office through Friday, Aug 8
Visit your municipal clerk's office in person. Note: voter registration is prohibited the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before the election (Aug 8–10).
Register to Vote at Your Polling Place on Election Day Aug 11
Missed earlier deadlines? You can still register to vote in person at your polling place on Election Day, August 11. You must bring proof of residence AND a valid photo ID.
✅ Already registered to vote? Confirm your voter registration status, polling place, and voter info at myvote.wi.gov. If you've moved, you'll need to update your voter registration (28-day residency requirement — update by July 14).
Absentee / Vote by Mail
Who can vote absentee?
Any registered Wisconsin voter can request an absentee ballot — no excuse required. Absentee ballots can be requested online, by mail, or in person at your municipal clerk's office.
How to request your absentee ballot
• Online: Visit myvote.wi.gov → "Vote Absentee By Mail." Deadline: 5pm Thursday August 6, 2026.
• By mail, fax, or email: Contact your municipal clerk. Deadline: 5pm August 6, 2026.
• In person: Visit your municipal clerk's office. Early voting locations open July 28 – August 9.
Returning your absentee ballot
• Must be received (not just postmarked) by your municipal clerk by 8pm on August 11.
• Mail at least one week early (by August 4) to ensure on-time delivery.
• You can also hand-deliver to your polling place or clerk's office by 8pm on Election Day.
⚠️ Witness required. When filling out your absentee ballot, a witness must be present — an adult U.S. citizen (18+) who is not a candidate in the election. The witness must sign the return envelope. Missing this step may disqualify your ballot.
ℹ️ Photo ID with absentee request: If you have not previously provided a photo ID to your clerk, you must include a copy when submitting your absentee ballot request. You do not need to resubmit ID when returning the voted ballot.
What to Bring: Photo ID
Wisconsin requires photo ID to vote — both in person and when requesting an absentee ballot.
Wisconsin driver's license or state ID (current, or expired after the last general election)
Wisconsin student ID (with signature, issuance date, expiration no more than 2 years from issue date)
U.S. military ID
ID card from a federally recognized Wisconsin tribe — can be used even if expired, regardless of expiration date
U.S. passport or certificate of naturalization