Voting as a College Student

As we celebrate National Voter Education Week, the City Clerk’s Office has been answering questions from college students who are preparing to vote in their very first election.

As a college student, you may either register to vote at your campus address, or at your hometown address. Which address you choose is a personal decision. You may only be registered at one address.

To be eligible to vote, you must:

• Be 18 years old by Election Day.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Establish residency at your voting address at least 28 days before the election.
• Not currently be serving a sentence for a felony.

It can be helpful to make a voting plan.

1. Register to vote.
   • Online: If you have a Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin ID, and your address is up-to-date with the DMV, register to vote online at MyVote.wi.gov.
   • At the City Clerk’s Office: Bring proof of address to the Clerk's Office at least two weeks before Election Day.
   • At any Madison Public Library: Bring proof of address to the any Madison Public Library location by October 16.
   • By mail: Go to MyVote.wi.gov to fill out the registration form. Mail the form and proof of address to the City Clerk's Office. Postmark must be no later than October 16.
   • At an Absentee Voting site: Register to vote at an Absentee Voting site with proof of address. This option begins October 22 and ends Friday, November 1.
   • At the polls: You can register at the polls on Election Day, November 5, with proof of address.

2. Decide which ID you will use

   The address on your ID does not matter for proving your identity when voting. Wisconsin only accepts certain types of ID as voter ID. A driver license or ID card from another state is not accepted as a voter ID in Wisconsin. Here are the acceptable types of voter ID in Wisconsin:

   • Wisconsin driver license or ID expiring after 11/8/2022 (the date of the last November election) -- the address on the ID does not matter for proving your identity
   • U.S. Passport expiring after 11/8/2022 (the date of the last November election)
   • Military ID expiring after 11/8/2022 (the date of the last November election)
   • Certificate of naturalization issued within last 2 years
   • Unexpired WI driver license or ID receipt
   • Tribal ID card (expiration does not matter)
   • ID from an accredited college or university in Wisconsin that expires within two years of issuance and contains the student's signature -- if expired, also need proof of current enrollment
   • Edgewood College ID—if expired, also need proof of current enrollment
   • UW Voter ID card (not the WisCard)—if expired, also need proof of current enrollment
   • Unexpired Veterans Affairs ID

3. Find your Sample Ballot

   You can see your sample ballot at MyVote.wi.gov.

4. Decide how you will Exercise your Right to Vote
   • Vote absentee by mail. It can take up to a week to receive your ballot in the mail. You can request an absentee and track its status at MyVote.wi.gov. If your voter ID is not on file with the Clerk's Office, submit a copy of it with your absentee request.
   • Vote absentee in person. This is sometimes referred to as early voting. Bring your Voter ID with you.
   • Vote in person at the polls on Election Day. Verify your polling location before heading to the polls.

The goal of the City Clerk’s Office is that each eligible voter will be able to cast a ballot and have that ballot counted.