Battleground Wisconsin Starts Early Voting

Wisconsin is the latest swing state to start a form of in-person early voting—specifically, in-person absentee voting.

“Starting on Tuesday, Oct. 22—two weeks before Election Day—municipal clerks can begin to issue in-person absentee ballots at the clerk’s office or another designated location,” the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), which oversees elections in the state, wrote in an Oct. 21 press release.

Municipalities have the discretion to set the hours for such voting. In-person absentee voting is carried out at the municipal clerk’s office or other designated sites.

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“Some smaller jurisdictions choose to offer [in-person absentee voting] by appointment only,” WEC noted in its press release. “Voters will need to check with their municipal clerk.”

Observers can be at the municipal clerk’s office during the process, “provided the office is located in a public building.”

Observers are entitled to observer zones at the check-in and registration areas, both from three to eight feet from the tables where those activities are taking place.

Of course, in-person absentee voting is just one form of absentee voting in America’s Dairyland.

“Voters who want to cast an absentee ballot by mail for the November General Election can still do so, but time is running out,” said Meagan Wolfe, the administrator of WEC.

“Absentee ballots must arrive by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted. Absentee voters should make a plan as soon as possible for requesting and returning their ballot to ensure it arrives on time.”

The onset of in-person absentee voting has drawn campaigns to the state.