Wisconsin’s spring election is rapidly approaching, with races for state Supreme Court, local offices and plenty of referendums on the ballot.
Now is a good time to check your voter registration status before the April 7 election. The deadline to register online through myvote.wi.gov was March 18, but you can also register at the polls on Election Day or at your clerk’s office through April 3.
You’ll need to re-register if you’ve moved addresses or changed your name since the last election. Make sure to bring a proof of residence document that shows your current address, like a copy of your lease, a utility bill or bank statement.
Here are other important voting deadlines and information ahead of the spring election:
How do I request an absentee ballot for the April 7 election?
The deadline for most voters to request an absentee ballot is April 2 at 5 p.m. You can request an absentee ballot online at myvote.wi.gov and check when it gets mailed out to you.
If you’ve put in your absentee request, you should receive your ballot soon if you haven’t already. If you plan to return it in the mail, officials recommend doing so at least 10 days in advance, or March 28.
When does early voting start in Wisconsin?
The early voting window for the April 7 election is March 24 to April 5. Hours, dates and locations vary by community, so check your local clerk’s website for details.
What’s on the April 7 ballot?
There is one statewide race on the April 7 ballot: A seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Chris Taylor is the liberal candidate in the officially nonpartisan race, and Maria Lazar is the conservative candidate.
If Taylor wins, the court’s liberal majority would expand to 5-2. If Lazar wins, the court’s ideological balance will remain 4-3.
The rest of the ballot features local races that depend on where you live, such as judges, county board, mayor, school boards and more.
Many communities also have referendums on the ballot, including a $135.6 million school referendum in Whitefish Bay and a novel data centers ballot question in Port Washington.
You can see what your ballot will look like ahead of time at myvote.wi.gov.
When are Wisconsin’s next elections?
A full list of election dates and important voting deadlines can be found on the Wisconsin Election Commission’s website.
This story was updated to reflect the most recent guidance from WEC, which recommends returning absentee ballots via mail 10 days in advance, rather than a week in advance.
Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin election is April 7; register to vote, absentee ballot info
Reporting by Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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