Election Series: How to Register

First up: How To Register

Registering is easy, but there are some rules you need to follow. The government wants you to vote, and there are plenty of options to get signed up. Here are a few:

1. By mail - Visit the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board's website and download the two page voter registration form. You’ll have to mail it back to your municipal clerk's office (find yours here). If you're a first-time voter (anyone who hasn't voted in Wisconsin before) you will need to provide proof of residence - find out what counts as proof here. Your form must be postmarked no later than October 15 to vote on November 4.

2. In person - Stop in at your municipal clerk's office during business hours any day before election day.

3. Wisconsin is one of only a handful of states that allows same day voter registration. Take advantage! At the polling place on election day you must bring proof that you have lived at your present location for at least 10 days preceding the election. For purposes of voter registration, acceptable forms of proof of residence must include:

• A current and complete name, including both the given and family name; and
• A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and
the name of a municipality.

(View examples of acceptable proof of residence here.)

You can also sign up with many non-profit voter registration organizations' volunteers at public events.

Our next topic: Voting Early