Voting News for Care Facilities from the Wisconsin Elections Commission
The following message from the Wisconsin Elections Commission is for administrators and staff at nursing homes and care facilities.
Due to safety concerns, the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) determined that Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) will not be dispatched to care facilities to administer voting for the August 11, 2020, Partisan Primary and November 3, 2020, General Election. Residents of care facilities normally served by SVDs will instead be mailed absentee ballots for each election. In support of these efforts the WEC has created reference materials that explain the voting options and procedures for residents in nursing homes and care facilities.
Residents who receive ballots will have to vote their ballot, have a witness provide required information on the return envelope, and return their ballot by mail in order to participate. There may be residents who need to register to vote or update their voter registration to reflect their current name or address. In addition, residents without an active absentee ballot request on file with their municipal clerk will have to submit one before a ballot will be mailed to them.
The deadlines for both voter registration and requesting an absentee ballot prior to the August 11, 2020, Partisan Primary are as follows:
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Voter registration deadline (online or by mail): Wednesday, July 22, 2020. Voter registration after this deadline must take place in-person, either in the municipal clerk’s office or at the polling place on Election Day.
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Absentee request deadline: The deadline to make a request for the August 11, 2020, Partisan Primary is Thursday August 6, 2020, for regular voters and Friday August 7, 2020, for voters who self-certify they are “indefinitely confined” due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability.
Due to these changes, residents may need assistance to be able to vote. Care facility administrators and staff members are able to:
- Assist residents in filling out their ballots or certificate envelopes.
- Assist residents in completing voter registration forms and absentee requests.
- Sign the special certificate envelope (EL-122sp) if necessary
- Witness ballots.
View the Absentee Voting at Care Facilities in 2020 informational packet
Contact the Wisconsin Elections Commission with questions or concerns by email: elections@wi.gov or by phone 608-266-8005.
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