Wisconsin’s voting process for the upcoming general election on November 5 offers standard options for in-person voting and mail-in absentee ballots. Wisconsin residents can register online and request an absentee ballot through myvote.wi.gov. For registered voters, the deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 31, and all absentee ballots must be received by municipal clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day.
For military and overseas voters, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) provides some unique accommodations. Enacted in 1986, UOCAVA enables members of the U.S. Uniformed Services, the Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Merchant Marine, as well as their families and U.S. citizens residing abroad, to electronically request and receive voter registration materials and absentee ballots. However, unlike 31 other states, Wisconsin does not allow these voters to return ballots electronically, requiring them to return paper copies by mail.
For overseas voters, absentee ballot requests are due by 5 p.m. on October 31. Military voters away from home have until 5 p.m. on Election Day to request ballots, although the federal Voting Assistance Program advises sending ballots back 11 to 35 days in advance due to potential postal delays.
Concerns over cybersecurity have influenced federal recommendations against electronic ballot returns. In 2020, a federal interagency group issued guidance cautioning states about the risks of electronic voting methods, recommending paper ballots to prevent potential cyber disruptions.