Spring Election

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The contest for Wisconsin Supreme Court shattered national spending records for a judicial race and has garnered the most attention of the races on the spring election ballot. But that's just one thing voters will decide on April 4; Madison ballots will also include mayoral, city council and school board races, and several referendum questions. Be prepared by reading the Isthmus Voter Guide (in English and Spanish) and set aside time to head to the polls on Tuesday.

Voters go to the polls between 7 am-8 pm, 4/4. For current polling places/ballot info: cityofmadison.com/clerk or clerk.countyofdane.com. 608-266-4601.

media release from the Madison City Clerk's Office: The Spring Election is on Apr. 4, 2023.

There are several offices and referenda that will be on the ballot in April:

• Supreme Court Justice
• Court of Appeals Judge, District IV
• City of Madison Mayor
• City of Madison Alders, District 1 – 20
• Area School Board Seats
• State of Wisconsin Referenda (3)
• Dane County Referenda (2)
• City of Madison Referendum

The City of Madison Assessor’s Office website allows you to find out which Alder district you live in. Search by your address on the Property Look-up page. Your Aldermanic district will be listed under “City Hall.”

Sample ballots are available for viewing by address on the MyVote Wisconsin website.

The City of Madison Clerk’s Office put together a top five list of things to know for tomorrow’s Spring Election.

1. Confirm your polling place. To verify your polling location, visit www.cityofmadison.com/WhereDoIVote.
2. The address on the ID you use for voting does not matter. When checking your photo ID, election officials are verifying your identity. They are not checking the address on your ID. Just make sure you have an acceptable ID for voting in Wisconsin.
3. You can register to vote at the polls. If you are registering to vote for the first time or you are updating your voter registration, you will need to show the election officials proof of residence. Your proof of residence document may be shown on paper or in an electronic format, e.g. your online utility bill, bank statement, City of Madison assessment, or My UW account.
4. Your absentee ballot must be returned by Election Day in order to be counted. Election officials at your polling place will insert your absentee ballot into the tabulator to be counted. If you still have your absentee ballot, drop it with election officials at your polling place tomorrow. You can track the status of your absentee ballot by looking up your name at myvote.wi.gov.
5. You can view a sample ballot for your address before heading to the polls. There are several state, judicial, municipal, and school board races on this ballot. Prepare yourself ahead of Election Day by checking out a sample ballot for your address at myvote.wi.gov.

We intend to give you the correct ballot. If we mistakenly hand you an incorrect ballot, please tell an election official before you insert your ballot into the tabulator to be counted. If you are unsure of your City of Madison Alder district or your school district, look up your address at cityofmadison.com/assessor/. 

Do not hesitate to contact the Clerk’s Office. If you have a question or encounter a problem at your polling place, please let us know right away by calling (608) 266-4601.

The city of Madison Clerk’s Office is an administrative agency of Wisconsin’s second-largest municipality. We administer all elections for the municipality and license bars and restaurants within the city’s boundaries. The city of Madison has over 190,000 registered voters and more than 650 licensed alcohol establishments. We believe that we create a more equitable, thriving city by serving each resident and voter with dignity and respect. Visit cityofmadison.com/clerk for more information. Find voting information for the city of Madison at cityofmadison.com/election. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @MadisonWIClerk.

City of Madison Property Look-up

MyVote Wisconsin: Sample Ballot

from the Wisconsin Elections Commission:

The Wisconsin Elections Commission is providing guidance to voters to be ready for Tuesday’s Spring Election. Here’s what to know:

1.    Voters can check their registration status and find their polling place at MyVote.wi.gov. Voters planning to go to the polls should check the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s MyVote website to verify their registration, find their polling place, and see what is on their ballot.

2.    Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Polling place hours are the same across Wisconsin, no matter where you live. Voters need to be in line by 8 p.m. to participate.

3.  Those not registered to vote can do so at their polling place on Election Day. On Election Day you can register to vote for the first time or update your name or address. To register, voters will need to show a proof of residence document, which must contain the voter’s name and current residential address. Examples include a bank statement, recent electric bill, or a current and valid Wisconsin driver’s license or state ID card. Learn more at https://elections.wi.gov/Register

4.    Remember to bring your photo ID to your polling place. Wisconsin requires an acceptable photo ID to vote, such as a Wisconsin driver’s license, state ID card, U.S. passport, military or veteran’s ID, tribal ID, a certificate of naturalization, or some student IDs. Anyone with questions about photo ID can visit the state’s Bring It to the Ballot website or call 1-866-VOTE-WIS for information. Those without an acceptable photo ID can get one for free at their local Division of Motor Vehicles office. For more information, call 608-266-1069. An acceptable photo ID for voting does not need to show the voter’s current address.

5.    Voters can still return absentee ballots on Election Day. Voters should contact their municipal clerk to learn where absentee ballots should be returned. Most voters must personally deliver their own absentee ballot (see number 6 below for exceptions). To ensure that your absentee ballot is counted, the WEC recommends paying close attention to included instructions for completing and delivering an absentee ballot. Remember: Both the voter’s address and witness’s address need to be clear and complete on the envelope into which the ballot is inserted.

6.    Voters with disabilities have additional options when returning absentee ballots. Pursuant to the Voting Rights Act, any Wisconsin voter who requires assistance with mailing or delivering an absentee ballot to the municipal clerk due to a disability must be permitted to receive assistance from a person of the voter’s choice. This person cannot be the voter’s employer or an agent of the employer. This person also cannot be an officer or agent of the voter’s union. Contact your municipal clerk if you have questions. 

from the League of Women Voters of Dane County:

Candidates for the April 4 election have responded to questions from the League of Women Voters of Dane County. Their unedited responses, plus the wording of state, county, city, and school district referendums, are now available to Dane County voters on two websites: Vote411.org and lwvdanecounty.org.

The League of Women Voters of Dane County is making this information available as voters begin to receive their absentee ballots, which are scheduled to be mailed starting March 13. The League encourages voters to start their voting research before casting their ballot so they can be informed and prepared voters.

Madison voters can vote early (in-person absentee voting) beginning Tuesday, March 21, at City of Madison libraries and other locations across Madison. Voters in other Dane County municipalities should check myvote.wi.gov or their municipal clerk’s website to learn about local early voting locations, dates, and hours.

Voters can learn which candidates are on their ballot, find contact information for their municipal clerk, request or track their absentee ballot, or find their polling place for April 4 at myvote.wi.gov. Voters can find information on referendums and candidates for judicial, city, and school board offices (though not for town and village offices or referendums) based on the voter’s address at Vote411.org.  

Candidates’ Answers for the April 4 general election will be distributed in the Wisconsin State Journal and on The Capital Times racks on March 15, and will be in The Capital City Hues the following week.

The League website, lwvdanecounty.org, also has information about voting, voter photo ID, and voter registration, in English and Spanish. Voters who have questions about voting may contact the nonpartisan Voter Helpline at (608) 285-2141 to reach experienced volunteers who can offer assistance.

“We understand voters are busy. That’s why we strive to provide voters with these easy-to-access resources so they can be fully prepared to cast their ballot,” says Wendy Hathaway, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Dane County.