The 2026 Spring General Election is on April 7. There will be one statewide election for state Supreme Court and likely a slew of local seats on the ballot. It is vital that you make your voting plan now to ensure that you are ready to vote on Election Day. Making sure you are registered and have a photo ID as soon as possible is critical to making your voice heard in April.
There are a few important deadlines to keep in mind ahead of the April election:
- March 18: Deadline to register by mail or online
- March 24 – April 5: In-Person absentee voting period
- April 2: Deadline to request an absentee ballot
- April 3: Deadline to register in your municipal voting office
- April 7: Polls open 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
These deadlines are the very latest that you are able to register or send your ballot; however if you wait until the last minute to mail your ballot it may still not arrive in time. Absentee ballots, whether they are returned in-person or by mail, need to be at your polling place or central count facility by 8 p.m. on Election Day. We strongly encourage you to request your absentee ballot as soon as possible and to mail it back at least two weeks before Election Day so that it can make it through the postal system and arrive in time to be counted. Voters can request absentee ballots for the entire year, which can help ensure that your ballot is sent to you as soon as possible. You can do that on the MyVote website at MyVote.wi.gov/en-us/Vote-Absentee-Guide.
You need to have a photo ID in order to register to vote and to cast your ballot. It is critical that you get your ID as soon as possible in case there are any delays in the process. Photo IDs acceptable for voting purposes include a driver’s license, state-issued ID card or passport. A full list of acceptable IDs can be found on the state elections commission website.
Your photo ID does not need to be a REAL ID to allow you to vote. REAL IDs are similar to a driver’s license or state-issued ID card but require additional documentation to get. REAL IDs are needed to fly within the U.S. and to access some federal buildings and can serve as a photo ID for voting, but a regular driver’s license or state ID card are all that is needed to vote.
It can take around two weeks for you to get your ID after ordering it from the DMV, so make sure you plan in advance when you are going to get one. Especially for people who are blind or low vision and other nondrivers, having a plan in place for when you will go to get your ID is essential to getting your ID in time for Election Day. If you have a regular state-issued ID or driver’s license, you are able to renew your license online instead of in-person every other ID cycle. So, if you renewed your ID at a DMV the last time it expired, you are able to renew it online. Renewing online is only available for regular driver’s licenses and state ID cards, and not REAL IDs.
With your photo ID, you are ready to register to vote. Wisconsin law allows you to register at your polling place on Election Day if you are not already registered. In order to register, either on Election Day or before by mail, online or in-person, you must show your photo ID and a proof of address. Some examples of proof of address include a utility bill, current and valid driver’s license or state ID card or a residential lease. You can find a more complete list of acceptable proof of address on the Madison City Clerk’s website. You can find out now if you are registered to vote and register online at MyVote.wi.gov/EN-US/Register-To-Vote.
Having an up-to-date photo ID and getting registered is the first step toward making your voting plan. Taking these steps early can help ensure you are on track to cast your ballot on Election Day.