Chapter 6 — THE ELECTORS

6.02 Qualifications, general. (1) Every U.S. citizen age 18 or older who has resided in an election district or ward for 28 consecutive days before any election where the citizen offers to vote is an eligible elector. (2) Any U.S. citizen age 18 or older who moves within this sta…

6.03 Disqualification of electors. (1) The following persons shall not be allowed to vote in any election and any attempt to vote shall be rejected: (a) Any person who is incapable of understanding the objective of the elective process or who is under guardianship, unless 6.56 6.…

6.05 Election day age determines elector’s rights. Any person who will be 18 years old on or before election day is entitled to vote if the person complies with this chapter. History: 1971 c. 336 s. 37; 1981 c. 390 s. 252; 1991 a. 316.

6.06 Information for uniformed service members. The May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 6.06 THE ELECTORS commission is the agency designated by this state under 42 USC 1973ff-1 to provide information regarding voter registration and absentee balloting proc…

6.10 Elector residence. Residence as a qualification for voting shall be governed by the following standards: (1) The residence of a person is the place where the person’s habitation is fixed, without any present intent to move, and to which, when absent, the person intends to re…

6.15 New residents; presidential voting. (1) QUALIFICATIONS. Any person who was or who is an eligible elector under ss. 6.02 and 6.03, except that he or she has been a resident of this state for less than 28 consecutive days prior to the date of the presidential election, is enti…

6.18 Former residents. If ineligible to qualify as an elector in the state to which the elector has moved, any former qualified Wisconsin elector may vote an absentee ballot in the ward of the elector’s prior residence in any presidential election occurring within 24 months after…

6.20 Absent electors. Any qualified elector of this state who registers may vote by absentee ballot under ss. 6.84 to 6.89. History: 1985 a. 304; 2003 a. 265.

6.21 Deceased electors. When by due proof it appears to the inspectors or, in municipalities where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, when by due proof it appears to the board of absentee ballot canvassers that a person casting an absentee ballot at an election has die…

6.22 Absentee voting for military electors. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section, except as otherwise provided: (a) “Member of the merchant marine” means an individual, other than a member of a uniformed service or an individual employed, enrolled or maintained on the Great Lakes or …

6.24 Federal overseas voting. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, except as otherwise provided, “overseas elector” means a U.S. citizen who is not disqualified from voting under s. 6.03, May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 6.24 THE ELECTORS who has attained or…

6.25 Write-in absentee ballot. (1) (a) Any individual who qualifies as a military elector under s. 6.22 (1) (b) and who transmits an application for an official absentee ballot for any election, including a primary election, no later than the latest time specified for the elector…

6.27 Elector registration required. Each elector shall register under this chapter before voting in any election, except as authorized under ss. 6.15, 6.18, and 6.22. History: 1973 c. 334 s. 57; 1977 c. 394; 1979 c. 260, 355; 1983 a. 484; 1985 a. 304; 1989 a. 192; 2003 a. 265. Hi…

6.275 Registration and voting statistics. (1) Except as provided in par. (f), no later than 30 days after each primary and election at which a state or national office is filled or a statewide referendum is held, including any special election, the municipal clerk or board of ele…

6.276 Federal absentee voting statistics. (1) In this section, “military elector” has the meaning given in s. 6.34 (1). (2) Within 30 days after each general election, each municipal clerk shall transmit to the commission a report of the number of absentee ballots transmitted by …

6.28 Where and when to register. (1) REGISTRATION DEADLINE; LOCATIONS. (a) Except as authorized in ss. 6.29, 6.55 (2), and 6.86 (3) (a) 2., registration in person for an election closes at 5 p.m. on the 3rd Wednesday preceding the election. Registrations made by mail under s. 6.3…

6.29 Late registration in person. (1) No names may be added to a registration list for any election after the close of registration, except as authorized under this section or s. 6.55 (2) or

6.30 How to register. (1) IN PERSON. An elector shall apply for registration in person, except as provided under subs. (4) and (5) and s. 6.86 (3) (a) 2. (4) BY MAIL. Any eligible elector may register by mail on a form prescribed by the commission and provided by each municipalit…

6.32 Verification of certain registrations. (1) Upon receipt of a registration form that is submitted by mail under s. 6.30 (4) or by electronic application under s. 6.30 (5), the commission or municipal clerk shall examine the form for sufficiency. (2) If the form is insufficien…

6.325 Disqualification of electors. No person may be disqualified as an elector unless the municipal clerk, board of election commissioners or a challenging elector under s. 6.48 demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt that the person does not qualify as an elector or is not prope…

6.33 (1). The registration form shall also contain the following certification: “I, ...., hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, I am a qualified elector, having resided at ... for at least 28 consecutive days immediately preceding this election, and I have not voted a…

6.34 Proof of residence required. (1) In this section, “military elector” means a member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by reason of that duty, is absent from the residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; a member of the merchant marine, as defined in…

6.35 Filing registration forms. (1) Under the direction of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners, the original registration forms shall be filed in one of the following ways, except as provided in subs. (1m) and (2): (a) In alphabetical order of the electors’ nam…

6.36 Official registration list. (1) (a) The commission shall compile and maintain electronically an official registration list. The list shall contain all of the following: 1. The name and address of each registered elector in the state. 2. The elector’s date of birth. 3. The wa…

6.45 Access to registration list. (1) After the deadline for revision of the registration list, the municipal clerk shall make copies of the list for election use. (1m) The registration list and any supplemental lists which are prepared at polling places or other registration loc…

6.46 Poll lists; copying. (1) Poll lists shall be preserved by the municipal clerk until destruction or other disposition is authorized under s. 7.23. (2) Poll lists shall be open to public inspection, except as provided in s. 6.47. The municipal clerk shall furnish upon request …

6.47 (2) from copies of the list, except as authorized under s. 6.47 (8). History: 1975 c. 85, 199; 1977 c. 394 s. 53; 1983 a. 484; 1989 a. 192; 1999 a. 49, 182; 2001 a. 38; 2013 a. 166. Cross-reference: See also s. EL 3.50, Wis. adm. code.

6.48 Challenging registration. (1) GENERAL PROCEDURE. (a) Any registered elector of a municipality may challenge the registration of any other registered elector by submitting to the municipal clerk or executive director of the board of election commissioners in cities of more th…

6.50 Revision of registration list. (1) No later than June 15 following each general election, the commission shall examine the registration records for each municipality and identify each elector who has not voted within the previous 4 years if qualified to do so during that ent…

6.54 Failure to register; rights. No name may be added to the registration list after the close of registration, but any person whose name is not on the registration list but who is otherwise a qualified elector is entitled to vote at the election upon compliance with s. 6.29 or …

6.55 Polling place registration; voting by certification. (2) (a) Except where the procedure under par. (c) or (cm) is employed, any person who qualifies as an elector in the ward or election district where he or she desires to vote, but has not previously filed a registration fo…

6.56 (3). The municipal clerk or board of election commissioners shall provide the information described under this paragraph to the elections commission and the county clerk or county board of election commissioners at the earliest practicable time after, but no later than 90 da…

6.57 Registration list for special elections. The municipal clerk of each municipality where a special election is held nonconcurrently with a regularly scheduled election shall obtain a copies of the current registration list from the commission for use in the special election. …

6.76 Time off for voting. (1) Any person entitled to vote at an election is entitled to be absent from work while the polls are open for a period not to exceed 3 successive hours to vote. The elector shall notify the affected employer before election day of the intended absence. …

6.77 Place for voting. (1) An elector may vote only at the polling place for his or her residence designated by the governing body or board of election commissioners. (2) Whenever territory which was formerly a part of one municipality becomes a part of another municipality, an e…

6.78 Poll hours. (1m) The polls at every election shall be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. (4) Any elector waiting to vote, whether within the polling booth or in the line outside the booth at the time the polls officially close, shall be permitted to vote. History: 1985 a. 304; 19…

6.79 (2) (dm). (b) Upon the filing of the registration form required by this section, the municipal clerk or clerk’s agent under s. 6.33 (5) (b) shall enter the type of identifying document submitted by the elector as proof of residence, the name of the entity or institution that…

6.80 Mechanics of voting. (1) VOTING BOOTH OR MACHINE USE. Only one individual at a time is permitted to occupy a voting booth or machine, except that an elector who is a parent or guardian may be accompanied by the elector’s minor child or minor ward, and an elector who qualifie…

6.82 (2) may be assisted as provided in that subsection. (2) METHOD OF VOTING. (a) Upon receiving his or her ballot and without leaving the polling place, the elector shall enter an unoccupied voting booth or machine alone to cast his or her vote, except as authorized in sub. (1)…

6.84 Construction. (1) LEGISLATIVE POLICY. The legisla- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 6.84 THE ELECTORS ture finds that voting is a constitutional right, the vigorous exercise of which should be strongly encouraged. In contrast, voting by absentee bal…

6.85 Absent elector; definition. (1) An absent elector is any otherwise qualified elector who for any reason is unable or unwilling to appear at the polling place in his or her ward or election district. (2) Any otherwise qualified elector who changes residence within this state …

6.855 Alternate absentee ballot site. (1) The governing body of a municipality may elect to designate a site other than the office of the municipal clerk or board of election commissioners as the location from which electors of the municipality may request and vote absentee ballo…

6.86 (3) (a) 2. Any person whose name is not on the registration list but who is otherwise a qualified elector is entitled to vote at May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 6.29 THE ELECTORS the election upon compliance with this section, if the person complie…

6.865 Federal absentee ballots. (1) In this section, “military elector” has the meaning given under s. 6.34 (1). (2) A federal postcard registration and absentee ballot request form may be used to apply for an absentee ballot under s. 6.86 (1) if the form is completed in such man…

6.869 Uniform instructions. The commission shall prescribe uniform instructions for municipalities to provide to absentee electors. The instructions shall include the specific means of electronic communication that an absentee elector may use to file an application for an absente…

6.87 (3) to (7) and 9.01 (1) (b) 2. and 4. shall be construed as mandatory. Ballots cast in contravention of the procedures specified in those provisions may not be counted. Ballots counted in contravention of the procedures specified in those provisions may not be included in th…

6.875 (1) (bm). (b) All applications for registration corrections and additions may be made throughout the year at the office of the city board of election commissioners, at the office of the municipal clerk, at the office of the county clerk, or at other locations provided by th…

6.88 Voting and recording the absentee ballot. (1) When an absentee ballot arrives at the office of the municipal May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 27 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. clerk, or at an alternate site under s. 6.855, if applicable, the clerk shall …

6.89 Absent electors list public. The municipal clerk shall keep a list of all electors who make application for an absent elector’s ballot and who have voted under the absent elector provisions giving the name, address and date of application. The list shall be open to public in…