You have the right to file a complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. However, most people are able to resolve their complaints informally. We suggest you may want to follow the steps below as a starting point to resolve your concern.
Call or write your municipal (i.e., city, village or town) clerk’s office to let them know about the problem. The clerk’s office may be able to resolve your concern right away. Find your municipal clerk under Directory of Wisconsin Clerks on this web site.
Contact other employees who work for your city, town or village to see if they can help you.
If you still have problems, you can call the Wisconsin Elections Commission at (608)266-8005 or email us at @email.
If your complaint is still not resolved, you can file a formal, verified complaint with the WEC. The WEC web site contains a complete guide for filing a formal complaint.
If the WEC is unable to resolve the formal complaint to your satisfaction, you may have the option of filing a complaint under certain laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if they apply to your situation.
Organizations that advocate for persons with disabilities such as Disability Rights Wisconsin (DRW) may be able to assist you in resolving your complaint if it is related to a disability. To reach DRW’s Voting Rights Line, call 800/928-8778 (voice) or 888/758-6049 (TTY).
Wisconsin law provides that whenever any person believes that a violation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) has occurred, is occurring, or is proposed to occur with respect to an election for national office in this state, that person may file a written, verified complaint with the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
A verified (or sworn) complaint is a written challenge, sworn to before a person authorized to administer oaths. The complaint must set forth facts within the knowledge of the complainant (the individual filing the complaint) to show probable cause to believe that a violation of law or abuse of discretion has occurred or will occur. The complaint may be accompanied by relevant supporting documents. This process can be found on the WEC web site.
If you have witnessed efforts to commit any kind of fraud or corruption in the voting process, you may report this to local law enforcement officials such as your sheriff’s or police department. You may also report this to the District Attorney in your county.
You may report this to federal law enforcement officials at:
United States Attorney's Offices
Eastern District of Wisconsin: 414-297-1700
Western District of Wisconsin: 608-264-5158
If you have witnessed actual or attempted acts of discrimination or intimidation in the voting process, you may report this to the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice at 1-800-253-3931.
If you have questions or concerns about the voting process, including polling place accessibility or accessible voting equipment, you may contact your municipal clerk.
You can check the Directory of Wisconsin Municipal Clerks on this website to find contact information for your municipal clerk. This listing contains telephone and fax numbers as well as addresses.
You may also use our online complaint form contact the Wisconsin Elections Commission at 608-266-8005, or e-mail: @email.
The presence of a candidate at a location where ballots are given to voters may give the appearance of electioneering. During hours when ballots may be cast, Wis. Stat. § 12.03 prohibits electioneering at polling places, in-person absentee voting sites, and locations where special voting deputies are present. It also prevents electioneering on public property within 100 feet of an entrance to one of these locations. Electioneering is defined by the statute as “any activity which is intended to influence voting at an election.” Additionally, while most individuals may observe voting at polling places and in-person absentee voting sites, any candidate whose name appears on a ballot at one of those locations is not extended that right under Wis. Stat. § 7.41(1). For these reasons, the Wisconsin Elections Commission recommends that a candidate only be present at one of these locations in order to vote, and to leave as soon as the candidate has finished voting.
Yes. A Power of Attorney can request an absentee ballot for an elector. No person (not even a POA) may "vote" a ballot for another elector. If the elector requires assistance in completing the ballot, the elector may designate another person to assist the elector in marking the ballot.* In the presence of the elector, the ballot is marked according to the elector's direction. The assisting elector must sign their name on the ballot under the section entitled "Signature of Assisting Individual."
*The assisting elector cannot be the elector's employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the elector. S. 6.82(2)(a), Wis. Stats. 3/12/2003
No. Absentee voting procedures allow an elector to complete a ballot before election day. However, absentee ballots are not considered cast until election day. If the voter is deceased at the time the absentee ballot is being processed at the polling place, the ballot cannot be counted. S. 6.21, Wis. Stats. 3/12/2003
Yes. Along with meeting all the usual requirements, voters who vote by absentee ballot must follow special rules in completing and signing the certificate on the ballot envelope, and having the certificate witnessed.
If any of these rules aren't followed, election officials at the polling place must reject the absentee ballot. These rules replace the safeguards normally present when a voter appears in person at the polling place.
If the request is made by mail by a regular voter, it must be in the office of the municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the Thursday preceding an election.
If the request is a calendar year request, it can be made until 5:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding the election.
If the request is made in-person, the deadline is the last day that the clerk is offering in-person absentee voting.
Special provisions are made for hospitalized electors and sequestered jurors to request and vote by absentee ballot on election day.