City street leading towards the Wisconsin Capitol Building in the distance, with cars driving and parked on the street, flanked by full, green trees.
Clerk's Office

On Election Day

Polls open at 7:00 am and close at 8:00 pm Everyone in line at 8:00 pm gets to vote.

You may register to vote at your polling place on Election Day. If you move within 28 days of an election, you can only vote from your previous address, at your old polling place.

Voters with health issues or a disability may vote from the curb of their polling place. Read more about polling place accessibility.

Voters must sign or make their mark on the poll book. Voters unable to sign due to a disability are exempt from this rule.

To vote, fill in at least half of the oval next to the name of your candidate. Insert your ballot in the tabulator and wait for a thank you message.

If you need help marking your ballot, you have options.

  1. Bring someone with you to the polls to help you mark your ballot. They cannot be your employer or your labor union representative. The person assisting you does not need to be an eligible voter. Poll workers will record the name and address of the person assisting you. The assistant will need to sign the ballot.
  2. You may use a touchscreen or Braille keypad on the ExpressVote to mark your ballot. The ExpressVote offers large print and high contrast on its touch screen. It has headphones and is compatible with sip & puff devices. You will review your selections before the ExpressVote prints your ballot. The ballot is counted by the same tabulator that counts ballots marked by pen.
  3. You may ask a poll worker to help you mark your ballot.

Visit My Vote Wisconsin. Here you can:

  • See your sample ballot
  • Verify your voter registration
  • Find your polling place

Polling Place Changes

The Common Council establishes polling places through the Madison General Ordinances. Polling places change for several reasons:

  • A facility is no longer willing to serve as a polling location
  • The former polling place is no longer accessible

  • The former polling place has become overcrowded

     

The City of Madison uses the following criteria to select polling places:

  1. Accessible to individuals with disabilities and the elderly
  2. Centrally located within ward, if possible
  3. Adequate space for voting 
  4. No rental charge
Two election officials on election day. They are looking at a stack of ballots.
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Elections & Voting