Voting News from the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition

Wisconsin Department of Health Services sent this bulletin at 04/03/2020 04:19 PM CDT
DHS Logo Original 07/11/2018

Information Bulletin

Voting News from the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition

(The following message is from the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition. It is being shared for your information. Please share this information widely.)

The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition is a non-partisan effort to help ensure full participation in the electoral process of voters with disabilities.

IMPORTANT ELECTION NEWS

On April 2, a federal judge issued a ruling that made some important changes to the April 7 election. Here is a summary.

  • TODAY (April 3, 2020) at 5 p.m. is the new deadline to request an absentee ballot on myvote.wi.gov or by email.
  • Absentee ballots may be counted if they are received by 4 p.m. on April 13, 2020. There is not a postmark requirement.
  • If a voter has not been successful in obtaining a witness signature for their absentee ballot, the voter can provide a written statement with their absentee ballot saying they could not safely obtain a witness's signature despite reasonable efforts to do so.

Note that this ruling is being appealed. It is possible there will be further changes. We encourage you to submit your absentee ballot as soon as possible!

VOTING FAQs

For detailed information about the changes made by Judge Conley, please see the updated Disability Vote Coalition FAQ for the April Election. The FAQ provides more detail about these changes, as well as all the basics about voting.

LIVE ELECTION UPDATES – JOIN US!

We are offering a few opportunities to catch live updates between now and the election as things are changing all the time. Join us at one of these times for more information:

Voting and COVID-19: Learn the Latest
April 6, 2020: 10:00 a.m.
Join Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/607231046
Meeting ID: 607 231 046

Voting and COVID-19: Learn the Latest_2
April 6, 2020: 6:00 p.m. 
Join Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/361270227
Meeting ID: 361 270 227

Voting and COVID-19: Learn the Latest_3
April 7, 2020: 8:00 a.m. 
Join Zoom meeting: https://zoom.us/j/241289876
Meeting ID: 241 289 876

Dial in information is the same for all three webinars:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US

 

VOTING TIPS IF YOU ARE VOTING ABSENTEE

Complete and return your absentee ballot as soon as possible!

  • The ruling from Judge Conley will allow absentee ballots to be counted if they are received by 4 p.m. on April 13, 2020. There is not a postmark requirement.
  • If you plan to mail your completed absentee ballot, mail it as soon as possible, at least a week prior to April 13.
  • You may need to deliver your ballot in person to have it arrive in time. Absentee ballots dropped off or hand-delivered before the new April 13 deadline but after the April 7 election will be counted.
  • You may have someone else deliver your ballot for you.
  • Contact your municipal clerk to ask where to deliver your completed absentee ballot. Some communities have drop off sites set up and may also have staff to witness your absentee ballot. myvote.wi.gov/en-US/MyMunicipalClerk

VOTING TIPS IF YOU ARE VOTING IN-PERSON

  • If you are voting in person on Election Day, your polling place may have changed. Be sure to check with your municipal clerk or on www.myvote.wi.gov.
  • Review your ballot online before you go to the polls.
  • Research your candidates and decide ahead of time who you will vote for so you can get in and out quickly.
  • You must have an acceptable photo ID to vote, such as a current Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID. www.bringit.wi.gov has a list of acceptable photo IDs.
  • If you are not able to enter your polling place due to disability, you may request curbside voting. Curbside voters are exempt from signing the pollbook.
  • Your polling place may be offering drive-through voting. Voters who are unable or unwilling to use the drive-through process should have the ability to vote using traditional methods in the polling location, or the location that may have been moved outdoors to complement the drive-through voting option. This includes the use of accessible voting equipment if requested.
  • You may want to bring a black pen to use to mark your ballot.
  • If you must get out of your car to vote, practice social distancing and wash your hands before and after you vote.
  • The National Guard has been called in to serve as poll workers. Be prepared to see people in uniform. Given the unusual circumstances, the training new poll workers receive will be spotty at best. Please be patient and courteous as they are doing their best under difficult circumstances.

Help is available! Contact these resources

The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition is a project of Disability Rights Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.