Today is Election Day in Wisconsin.
On April 7, voters will elect a new state Supreme Court justice, make their choices for local offices and weigh in on several school district referendums.
Here’s everything to know as you head to the polls today:
What does Wisconsin vote for today?
There is only one statewide race, meaning everyone will see it at the top of their ballot. That’s for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Both candidates are current judges on the state Court of Appeals.
Chris Taylor, a former Democratic state lawmaker and former policy director for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, is the liberal candidate in the race. Maria Lazar, a former assistant attorney general during Gov. Scott Walker’s administration, is the conservative candidate.
The rest of the ballot depends on where you live, but might include local offices like mayor, city council, school board and more. Some school districts have funding referendums on the ballot.
You can preview the races and candidates on your ballot at myvote.wi.gov.
There’s a list of contested races in the Milwaukee area at the bottom of this story.
How do I find my polling place in Wisconsin?
You can find your assigned polling place by entering your address at myvote.wi.gov, too.
When are polls open in Wisconsin today?
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. across the state. As long as you’re in line by 8 p.m., you’ll be allowed to vote.
What do I need to bring to vote in Wisconsin?
Make sure you bring a valid photo ID. Those include:
You may have heard about the SAVE Act, a bill pending in Congress that would require proof of citizenship to vote. That legislation hasn’t become law, so Wisconsin voters don’t need to bring a separate document that indicates their citizenship status.
Does Wisconsin have same-day voter registration?
You’ll be able to register or update your registration at your polling place. If you’d moved or changed your name since the last election, you’ll need to re-register.
If you need to register, 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. You can show an electronic copy on your phone. A full list of accepted documents is available on the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s website.
If you’re registering to vote from a new address, you must have lived there for at least 28 days by April 7. If you haven’t reached 28 days at your new address, you’ll need to vote at the polling place assigned to your previous address.
What do I do if I still have an absentee ballot?
If you still have a mail-in absentee ballot for the election, it’s too late to put it in the mail. Your clerk must have your ballot by 8 p.m. to count it.
Check your local clerk’s website or give them a call for specific instructions on returning your absentee ballot. They may tell you to bring your ballot to your assigned polling place or a central count location.
Some communities have absentee ballot drop boxes, but make sure to follow directions posted on the box, as they may close before 8 p.m. The City of Milwaukee’s drop boxes are open until 6 p.m. on April 7.
When will we know the results of the April 7 election?
It’s hard to know exactly when results will be called. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will be posting results as they come in.
The two most recent Supreme Court races, both of which elected liberal justices by double-digit margins, were called less than an hour after polls closed.
Local races and referendums, often decided by slim margins, could take longer to call.
When are Wisconsin’s next elections?
Wisconsin has two more 2026 elections after April 7:
A full list of election dates and important voting deadlines can be found on the WEC’s website.
Milwaukee-area contested races
Here’s a list of the contested local races in the Milwaukee area. Incumbents are noted with (i):
Milwaukee County
MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD
BAYSIDE VILLAGE BOARD (two seats)
CUDAHY SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
FOX POINT VILLAGE PRESIDENT
FRANKLIN MAYOR
FRANKLIN COMMON COUNCIL
FRANKLIN SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
GLENDALE COMMON COUNCIL
GLENDALE-RIVER HILLS SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM
GREENDALE SCHOOL BOARD
NICOLET SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
OAK CREEK-FRANKLIN SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
ST. FRANCIS COMMON COUNCIL
SHOREWOOD VILLAGE BOARD (two seats)
SOUTH MILWAUKEE LIBRARY REFERENDUM
SOUTH MILWAUKEE SCHOOL BOARD (three seats)
WAUWATOSA COMMON COUNCIL
Wauwatosa residents will vote for 12 alderpersons to represent 12 new districts, a change from the 16 alderpersons that represented eight districts. On the ballot are four contested races, and some incumbents are running to represent a new district.
WAUWATOSA SCHOOL DISTRICT (four seats)
WEST ALLIS-WEST MILWAUKEE SCHOOL BOARD (three seats)
WHITEFISH BAY SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM
WHITNALL SCHOOL BOARD (three seats)
Ozaukee County
OZAUKEE COUNTY BOARD
CEDARBURG COMMON COUNCIL
CEDARBURG SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
GRAFTON VILLAGE BOARD (three seats)
PORT WASHINGTON COMMON COUNCIL
PORT WASHINGTON-SAUKVILLE SCHOOL BOARD
PORT WASHINGTON TIF REFERENDUM
Washington County
GERMANTOWN SCHOOL BOARD
GERMANTOWN VILLAGE BOARD
WEST BEND COMMON COUNCIL
Waukesha County
WAUKESHA COUNTY BOARD
ARROWHEAD SCHOOL BOARD, AT-LARGE SEAT
BROOKFIELD MAYOR
BROOKFIELD COMMON COUNCIL
CHENEQUA VILLAGE BOARD (three seats)
DELAFIELD MAYOR
EAGLE TOWN BOARD (two seats)
ELMBROOK SCHOOL BOARD
GENESEE TOWN BOARD (two seats)
HAMILTON SCHOOL BOARD
HARTLAND-LAKESIDE SCHOOL BOARD
KETTLE MORAINE SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
LAC LA BELLE VILLAGE BOARD (two seats)
LAKE COUNTRY SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENDUM
MENOMONEE FALLS SCHOOL BOARD (three seats)
MERTON TOWN BOARD, SUPERVISOR 4
MUSKEGO MAYOR
MUSKEGO COMMON COUNCIL
MUSKEGO-NORWAY SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
NEW BERLIN COMMON COUNCIL
NEW BERLIN SCHOOL BOARD (two seats)
OCONOMOWOC MAYOR
OCONOMOWOC COMMON COUNCIL
SUMMIT VILLAGE BOARD (two seats)
SWALLOW SCHOOL BOARD
VERNON VILLAGE BOARD, TRUSTEE 1
WALES VILLAGE BOARD (two seats)
WAUKESHA MAYOR
WAUKESHA COMMON COUNCIL
WAUKESHA SCHOOL BOARD (three seats)
Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: It’s Election Day in Wisconsin; time, voting, polling places, ballot
Reporting by Hope Karnopp, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
