Get Your Vote On

So I know it’s still 80 degrees out and many of us may be refusing to admit fall is just around the corner, but it really is. And with that comes election season! The primaries are less than a month away, and in quite a few districts it is the primaries that will determine the state assembly and state senate seats. Are you registered to get your vote on?

If you’ve moved since the last time you voted, or if you’re a first-time voter you need to register. You can register at the polls, but it will save you time to register beforehand.

In Wisconsin, you have a couple choices if you choose to register before Election Day.

1. Register in person at the municipal clerk’s office where you live. You can register there up until 5 p.m. the day before the election. If you are registering after the mailing deadline listed below, you must bring an acceptable form of proof of residence, such as a current and valid Wisconsin driver's license, a utility bill or a bank statement, with you to the clerk's office. Many cities, towns or villages have additional places where you can register, as well. Check with your community for these other registration sites.

2. Another option is to register by mail. You can download and print out a registration application here. If you’d rather, you can also call or write to your clerk’s office, to request an application be sent to your address. If you are a first-time voter, you must submit an acceptable copy of proof of residence when you return the application. The completed application must be postmarked and received by the clerk’s office 20 days before the election. If you're voting in the primaries, you only have until the 25th of August, this Wednesday, to get the form to your clerk's office if you want to register this way.

For more information on how to register, where you’re polling place is located or any other questions about the election process you can visit this site and click on the “Elections & Voting” tab at the top.

Election Series: Best Sites for Research

While SmokeFree Wisconsin can't endorse candidates this election season, we can endorse a few websites you might want to check out before you head to the polls. As public health advocates, we build our power by being civically engaged.  We might not have money to throw around like Big Tobacco, but we have something all politicians want:  our vote.  Here are our top picks:

• Wisconsin-specific election information: check out the Elections Division of the Government Accountability Board's website. There you can find out what national, state, and local races will be on your ballot, check out their FAQ's section, or view past election results.

• Wisconsin's political parties also have sites worth a look: wisdems.org and wisgop.org. There you can donate to your chosen party, check out candidate positions and biographies, and find out what you can do to support your chosen candidate.  These are the people running to represent you in the Stage Legislature, where smoke-free legislation will likely be introduced and voted on again next session.

• In need of a statewide political fix? Don't miss WisPolitics.com and thewheelerreport.com's election page, two great sites dedicated to keeping tabs on all the nitty gritty details of election and (non-election statewide politics).

• Not interested in wading through "donate now" advertisements? Tired of visiting twenty sites for election information? Here's one: www.votesmart.org. Voter registration, candidate bios, voting records, issue positions, interest group ratings, public statements and public finance information. Find it all here.

• For nationwide information, be sure to check out JohnMcCain.com and BarackObama.com for voter details, position statements, and campaign donation and volunteering instructions.
  

Election Series: Voting Early

Today in Our Election Series: Voting Early

Did you know you can vote before Election Day in Wisconsin? Wisconsin allows absentee voting for all registered voters. Here's how:

Voting by absentee requires you to be registered before you can request your ballot. Look back at our registration post to find out how if you haven't registered to vote already.

Once registered, voters can request ballots:

• By Mail: Download the application for an absentee ballot from the GAB's Election Division website. Complete the form and mail it to your municipal clerk. The clerk must receive your application by 5:00 PM on the Thursday before the election (Oct. 30) in order to mail you a ballot.
• In Person: Apply up until 5:00 PM on the day before the election. You'll receive your ballot, fill it out, and return it before leaving the clerk's office.
  

Deadline: If you receive a ballot by mail, the completed ballot must be received by your municipal clerk no later than the day of election (your ballot must be delivered to the polling location by 8:00 PM). If time is getting down to the wire and you're not sure you can mail your ballot back in time, you can still go to your polling location on Election Day and cast your vote at the polls.

There are exceptions for military voters.

Stay tuned: What to Expect On Election Day

Election Series: You can register voters

This guest post is from Julie Swanson at the Tobacco Control Resource Center

Did you know you can get deputized to register voters? I hosted a "Special Deputy Party" at my house last week. Here is what I did:

Hosting a Special Deputy Party in three easy steps.

1. Call your municipal clerk's office and set up a time for one of their staff to come to your party (they provide the education and do the swearing in).

2. Invite friends, family, co-workers, neighbors. Face-to-face or a personal phone call worked best for me.

3. Get everyone together and learn the rules (this took about 30 minutes for our group). Take your oath and you are ready to register others. It is as easy as that.

Three lessons I learned.
1. You have to explain what "special deputy status" is and what they can do. Most people didn't know.
2. Make it fun. I called the event a Dessert and Deputy Party. And afterwards each person got a Special Deputy star and I took their photo.
3. End by talking about ways people can use their special deputy status. Here are some ways we talked about:
-one person volunteers at a homeless shelter and will bring her forms next time she goes
-call your PTO and ask about coming to the next meeting
-call church and talk with the social justice coordintor or youth minister
-set up a table in a high traffic place

In Wisconsin you can register people until October 15 (forms must be in by 5:00 pm). After that they need to register at the polls. I have to go register some voters.

Results: Kathy Wolf, who got deputized at the party, just told me she registered 5 people on Sunday and helped another five who did not live in Madison get the information they needed to register! Ten more people voting on November 4th!!!

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

Election Series: Stay tuned!

Assuming you're not living under a rock, you probably know there’s an election coming up. With a tight presidential race already underway, with hot issues like health care and the economy, and with Wisconsin emerging as a critical swing state, SFW’s blog presents our first ever Election Series.

This November, millions of Wisconsin adults won’t head to the polls. Despite the best efforts of both parties, despite the hype, the “lipstick,” and all the talking heads, many eligible voters in our state will stay home November fourth. SmokeFree Wisconsin has never been into apathy, so we thought we’d provide a few suggestions for first time (and first time in a long time) voters. Tune in on Tuesdays for more information.

How To Register (Tuesday, September 30th)

Voting Early (Tuesday, October 7th)

What to Expect on Election Day (Tuesday, October 14th)