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Voting News from the Disability Vote Coalition
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The Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition is a non-partisan effort to help ensure full participation in the electoral process of voters with disabilities.
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Please share the information in this newsletter!
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Rides to the Polls April 2023 Election
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The Disability Vote Coalition is pleased to share our Rides to the Polls for the April 2023 Spring Election. Rides to the Polls is a list of transportation providers around the state who may provide transportation for voting for people with disabilities and older adults.
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Need a ride? Act now! Check the list to see if there is a transportation provider in your area and contact them soon. Most providers require advance notice.
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If you have a question about Rides to the Polls or a voting question, contact the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline at 844-347-8683 or info@disabilityvote.org.
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What’s on Your Ballot? Resources to Be a Prepared Voter
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April 4th is a very important election in Wisconsin. Voters will elect a State Supreme Court Justice who will serve for 10 years and could be a “swing” vote in important cases. Your ballot will also include two Constitutional Amendment questions and a Statewide Non-binding Referendum. Depending on where you live, your ballot may also include other judicial elections, local elections (school board, mayor, city council) and local referendum questions. There is also a special State Senate election for residents of State Senate District 8.
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Learn about the candidates and the ballot questions so you can make be an informed voter. Here are some resources to help you prepare:
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- View your ballot at My Vote Wisconsin: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Whats-On-My-Ballot
- Vote 411 Wisconsin – Voter information from League of Women Voters, including non-partisan candidate information. Includes links to candidate websites.
- Ballotopedia: View your ballot with links to candidate information. Includes information about the ballot questions and links to organizations that support and oppose them.
- WisconsinEye Newsmaker Interviews with Supreme Court and Senate District 8 candidates and candidate forum coverage
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o You will need to set up a free account for WisconsinEye.
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Tips for Voting in Person
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If you are voting in person, we have some tips for you:
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- Carefully follow the instructions for completing your absentee ballot and the certificate envelope, to make sure your vote counts.
- When you complete your ballot, you will need a witness. The witness muse be over 18 and a US citizen.
- Make sure your witness signs their name and records their complete address on the certificate envelope, so your vote will count. Clerks are no longer able to correct missing or incomplete witness address information.
- If you have not mailed your absentee ballot, it is too late to return it by mail. Contact your clerk to ask about options for returning your ballot. Find their contact information here: myvote.wi.gov/my-Municipal-Clerk.
- Drop boxes are no longer an option for returning your absentee ballot, due to a July 2022 court ruling in the Teigen v. WEC case.
- If you need assistance returning your ballot: Voters with a disability may request assistance with mailing or delivering their ballot from anyone who is not their employer or a representative of their labor union. This right is protected by federal law and was affirmed by a federal court ruling in August of 2022 in the Carey v WEC case. View this link for information about Absentee Ballot Return Options.
- Voters who do not have a disability cannot have assistance delivering their absentee ballot.
- Your municipal clerk must have your ballot by 8 PM on election day for your vote to count.
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Voters with a disability have the right to have assistance with any aspect of voting. Recently, some disabled voters have experienced problems when they had someone return their absentee ballot. If you have a question about your voting rights or experience a barrier, please contact the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline at 844-347-8683 or email info@disabilityvote.org
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Check out our resources to learn more about voting rights and accommodations:
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Voting Rights Fact Sheet:
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Take the Voter Experience Survey: We want to hear from you!
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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and partners are conducting a survey to learn about voters' experience during the April 4th election. Please take the survey! It will help the League and the Disability Vote Coalition learn about your voting experience, any challenges you had, and what worked well.
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Here is some recent coverage about barriers experienced by voters with disabilities in Wisconsin:
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VOTING QUESTIONS?
Help is available! Contact these resources:
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