I am so thankful you all came out to support me in my re-election as Dane County 
District Attorney. Voting is a way to make your voice heard. It is a way to register your opinion on how you think the government should operate.
Thank you so much for safely helping to collect signatures to allow me to appear on the ballot in November 2020! 500 certified signatures were required to appear on the ballot and the Wisconsin Elections Commission certified 920!
I will continue to do everything I can to keep our Dane County communities safe and to maintain your trust and support. Together, we will do great things!
I would like to encourage you all, if you haven’t already voted early, to cast your ballot. I hope you will join me in voting for the many great Democrats we have on the ballot.
Together, we will do great things.
Ismael Ozanne
Información del votante en español aquí.
The next election in Wisconsin is the Spring Primary Election on February 16, 2021: Primary April 6, 2021: General election Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Voters must be registered to vote (see VOTER REGISTRATION, below). You may register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. Voters who move within 28 days before the election must vote at the poll from their previous address (in person or by requesting an absentee ballot).
Voters must present a voter photo ID. Be sure you have an eligible ID! More on Voter Photo ID. Voters who do not present acceptable voter photo ID may ask to cast a provisional ballot. The ballot will be counted only if the voter presents the required ID to the municipal clerk by 4 p.m. on the Friday after the election.
Voters must sign or make their mark on the poll book to obtain a ballot before voting. Voters who are unable to sign the poll book because of a disability are exempt from this requirement.
On the ballot, voters using a traditional ballot must fill in ovals next to their chosen candidates. Voters using the ExpressVote or AutoMARK machine make their choices on-screen and print their ballot. When finished, voters feed their hand-marked or machine-marked ballot into the slot in the tabulating machine. Wait for the machine screen to display, “Thank you for voting.” See a demonstration video here. Note that in Dane County, all ballot-marking machines and tabulators have instructions in English and Spanish.
VOTING ABSENTEE IN PERSON
You may vote by in-person absentee ballot for up to two weeks before the election. Each municipal clerk determines when and where they will allow this “early voting.” Some have extended hours for voting. Some have voting at additional sites besides the clerk’s office.
VOTING ABSENTEE BY MAIL
Absentee ballots are mailed beginning 3 weeks before local (spring) elections and 47 days before national (fall) elections.
Request a mailed absentee ballot from your city, town, or village clerk in writing by mail, fax, or e-mail. The request must be made no later than 5 p.m. on the Thursday before the election in order for an absentee ballot to be sent to you. Your request must include:
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Your name.
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The address where you are registered to vote.
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The address where the ballot should be sent.
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Your signature.
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A photocopy of an acceptable voter photo ID (see VOTER PHOTO ID) if one is not already on file with your municipal clerk.
Registered voters may request an absentee ballot online at MyVote.wi.gov. You will be required to upload a copy of your voter photo ID if one is not already on file with your municipal clerk. City of Madison residents may also request an absentee ballot using this form. For any other municipality in Wisconsin use this form.
Elderly or disabled voters may request a permanent absentee ballot without providing a voter photo ID. Anyone who is restricting their contacts and is concerned about voting in person because they are over 60, have an underlying health condition, or are disabled, can request a permanent absentee ballot. This request does not require a copy of your voter photo ID. Those who have requested to be on the permanent absentee ballot list may be dropped from the absentee ballot rolls if they do not vote in each election. City of Madison residents may request a permanent absentee ballot using this form; residents of other municipalities should use this form.
Upon receiving the absentee ballot (Watch a video from the City of Madison Clerk)
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In the presence of a witness, mark the ballot and seal it in the certificate envelope.
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Sign the certificate envelope in the presence of the witness.
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Have the witness sign the envelope and write their address.
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Mail the completed ballot. It must arrive at the clerk’s office or be hand-delivered to your polling place by 8 p.m. Election Day. The US Postal Service recommends 7-10 days for delivery. If you want to be sure your ballot is counted, it would be best for you or a trusted friend to hand-deliver it to your clerk’s office or a specified municipal drop box for ballots, before Election Day, or to your polling place on Election Day.
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If you fail to follow the directions about signature and witness or if the ballot is not delivered by Election Day, the ballot is not valid and cannot be counted.
Under Wisconsin law, voters do not need a reason or excuse, such as being out of town on Election Day, to vote absentee. Any voter who prefers to vote by absentee ballot may request one. You have several options for requesting an absentee ballot and casting your vote. You must be a registered voter to request an absentee ballot and you must show acceptable Photo ID before you can receive an absentee ballot.
Acceptable Forms of Photo ID
- Wisconsin driver license (expired after 11/03/2020)
- WI DOT-issued photo ID card (expired after 11/03/2020)
- U.S. passport (expired after 11/03/2020)
- Military ID card (expired after 11/03/2020)
- Certificate of naturalization issued within last 2 years
- Unexpired Wisconsin driver license or state ID receipt
- ID card issued by a Native American Tribe, regardless of expiration
- ID issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college—must contain issuance date, student signature, and expiration date within 2 years of issuance. If the ID is expired, proof of current enrollment is also required.
- Unexpired Veterans Affairs ID card
If you usually use your Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID, military ID card, or U.S. passport, make sure the expiration date is after 11/03/2020.
Voters who have previously provided their acceptable photo ID for an absentee ballot do not need to do so again unless they have updated their registration due to a move or name change.
Need help getting an ID? The Dane County Voter ID Coalition can help you with that. They provide help with getting transportation to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and working through the DMV application process. For assistance, call (608) 285-2141.
Why Vote?
Vote because every election matters. Vote because{“type”:”block”,”srcClientIds”:[“3863d43b-ca84-4b5c-804f-7776e02737f7″],”srcRootClientId”:””} the choices you will make matter. Vote because elections aren’t simply about your representatives in Washington or who is president. Who you choose this November to lead your local and state governments — whether as your governor, mayor, city council member, or your state senator — will have a serious impact on the life of your community. When we vote for our state and local officials, we make choices that will have very direct and concrete effects on our daily lives.
Voting
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Where to Vote
Find your polling place at Where Do I Vote?
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When to Vote
Polls open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm. Everyone in line at 8:00 pm gets to vote.
All locations are accessible, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. -
What’s on the Ballot
Find out what’s on your ballot at My Vote Wisconsin .
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Register to Vote
Register to vote at My Vote Wisconsin . Learn more about the registration process and requirements.
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Change Voter Name or Address
Update your name or address at My Vote Wisconsin .
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Accessibility
Learn more about accessibility at the polls.
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Information for Homeless Voters
Read more about voting and registration information , and see this guide for homeless voters pdf .
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Information for Ex-Felons and Incarcerated Voters
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With More Questions
View the Voter Information Center .
CLICK TO FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE
Register to Vote
Registering to Vote Online (prior to an election):
Up to 20 days before the election. Voters who have a valid State of Wisconsin Driver License or State of Wisconsin ID card issued by the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can register to vote online on the MyVote Wisconsin website: http://myvote.wi.gov. To register online, the voter must enter a name, date of birth, Driver License or ID number and address that matches what is on file with the Wisconsin DMV. If all of the fields match, the voter will be able to register to vote completely online without needing to print, sign or mail the form and without needing to send a proof of residence document. Voters who are not able to match their information with the information in the DMV database will be given the option to register by mail (see instructions above).
Registering in Person (prior to an election):
Voter registration closes at 5:00 p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday preceding an election in order for the person’s name to be included on the voter registration list. Some municipalities may provide other locations to accomplish registration (please check with your municipal clerk for locations). Late registrations may be accepted in the office of the municipal clerk, who shall issue a certificate addressed to the election inspectors stating that the elector shall be allowed to vote.
- Download and complete a Voter Registration Application
- Or use MyVote Wisconsin to fill out the application
Registering in Person (on election day):
Election day registration is allowed at the polls. The elector must provide proof-of-residence giving his or her complete name and address. Acceptable forms of proof-of-residence include:
- A current and valid WI Driver License / ID Card
- Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit
- An employee ID card with a photograph, but not a business card
- A real property tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the election
- A residential lease (Does not count as proof of residence if elector submits form by mail)
- A university, college or technical institutitute identification card (must include photo), ONLY if the bearer provides a fee receipt dated within the last nine months or the institution provides a certified housing list to the municipal clerk.
- A utility bill for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before the day registration is made
- A bank statement
- A paycheck
- A check or other document issued by a unit of government
- An affidavit on public or private social service agency letterhead identifying a homeless voter and describing the individual’s residence for voting purposes.
If the person registering on election day has a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, he or she must provide the number to the registration deputy. If the person registering does not have the driver’s license number with him/her, or refuses to provide the number, the person may vote a provisional ballot. The person must then provide the number to the municipal clerk by 4:00 the Friday following the election in order for his/her vote to be counted. If the person does not have a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, he or she may provide the last 4 digits of his/her social security number or his/her Wisconsin ID card number, and he/she will be permitted to vote.
Registering by Mail:
Any elector may register before the close of registration (3rd Wednesday prior to the election) for any election as follows:
- The elector shall obtain a Voter Registration Form by downloading it from here. Or using MyVote Wisconsin to complete the registration form. Electors can also contact their municipal clerk for a blank registration form and instructions.
- The elector shall certify that all statements are true and correct.
- The elector shall include a copy of their proof-of-residence (as defined in the list above for persons registering on election day).
- The elector shall return the registration form and proof-of-residence to their municipal clerk prior to the close of registration (3rd Wednesday prior to the election).
Official State of Wisconsin Voting Website
Elections: Everything you need to know
Dane County League of Women Voters Information
Voting information in Spanish and Hmong
Dane County Clerk Voter Update Videos
Voter information for UW Madison students
Photos of ID needed by student voters from the League of Woman Voters
Ismael Ozanne, Dane County District Attorney 