All the Information You Need to Vote and Races to Watch

Previewing the November 2020 Election

The General Election is November 3, 2020. Wisconsin voters will get to cast their ballots for U.S. President, Congress, State Senators from even-numbered districts, State Assembly and school referendums. 

Important Voting Information 

What's On Your Ballot: You can preview your ballot prior to voting at myvote.wi.gov. 

Deadline to Register to Vote: You can register to vote at the polls on Election Day. If you wish to register to vote prior to Election Day, you can do so online until October 14 or at your clerk's office until October 30. You need to submit a proof of residence document when registering to vote.

Proof of Residence: You only need a proof of residence if you are registering to vote. Lots of documents qualify as proof of residence. The document must contain your current address. The most common ones are driver's license, state ID card, utility bill that is no more than 90 days old, bank or credit card statements, paycheck or paystub, current lease and more! Learn more here. 

Photo ID Requirement: All Wisconsin voters need to meet the state's photo ID requirement whether the vote absentee or at the polls on Election Day. There are limited exceptions for voters who are indefinitely confined or who have a sincerely held religious belief the prevents them from being photographed. Your photo ID does not need to have your current address. You can view a list of acceptable photo IDs here or here. 

Deadline to Request a Mail-in Absentee Ballot: Your Request must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on October 29. However, due to the high demand for absentee ballots, it is recommended that you request one as soon as possible. Request an absentee ballot here.

Deadline to Return Your Absentee Ballot: Current law requires your absentee ballot to be received by the municipal clerk no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. There is currently a lawsuit pending related to extending this deadline. Due to the ongoing nature of this lawsuit, it is strongly encouraged that you return your ballot based on the current law deadline. 

Track Your Absentee Ballot: You can track your ballot to ensure that it is received by your local clerk at myvote.wi.gov.

Early In-Person Voting: You can vote in-person absentee at your local clerk's office (early voting). This varies by municipality, but generally you can vote early starting October 20 and ending November 1. You will need to bring a Photo ID with you to vote early. Contact your clerk to learn more. 

Find Your Polling Place: Find your polling place here. 

Voting at the Polls on Election Day: You can vote at the polls on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Due to COVID-19, your polling place may have changed! Double-check before heading to the polls. 

When in Doubt, Contact Your Municipal Clerk: The best source of information is your municipal clerk. Find your clerk here. 

 

Races to Watch

On the federal level, President Donald Trump is looking to win re-election and control of Congress is at stake. On the state level, control of the Legislature is on the ballot. Republicans currently have an 18-13 majority in the State Senate and a 63-34 majority in the State Assembly.  If Republicans pick up three Senate seats and three Assembly seats, they will have veto-proof majorities in both houses.

 

Congress

 

Wisconsin’s eight Congressional seats are up for election. Every race will be decided by the General Election.

 

• Congressional District 5: This seat is open for the first time in 42 years due to the  retirement of Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R). State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) is running against Tom Palzewicz (D-Brookfield).

• Congressional District 7: This race is a repeat of this summer’s special election to fill Congressman Sean Duffy’s (R) seat. Congressman Tom Tiffany (R-Minoqua), who won the special election with 58% of the vote, will once again take on Tricia Zunker (D-Wausau).

 

State Senate

 

Even-numbered State Senate seats are up for election. Five seats are uncontested and 11 races will be decided by the General Election.

• Senate District 10: Senate Republicans are hoping to win back Senate District 10 by defeating Senator Patty Schachtner (D-Somerset) who flipped the seat to Democratic control by winning a special election in January 2018. Schactner is being challenged by State Representative Rob Stafsholt (R-New Richmond).

•  Senate District 24: State Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) flipped this seat to Republican control in November 2016 after defeating Democratic incumbent Julie Lassa. Testin is being challenged by Paul Piotrowski (D-Stevens Point).

• Senate District 30: State Senate Republicans are targeting the vacant seat in Senate District 30, which was left open by the retirement of Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). Hansen won re-election in November 2016 with just 51% of the vote. Jonathon Hansen (D-De Pere), nephew of Dave Hansen, is running against Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay).

• Senate District 32: State Senate Republicans are also targeting the vacant seat in Senate District 32, which was left open by the retirement of Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). Dan Kapanke (R- La Crosse), who previously held the seat until losing the 2011 recall election to Shilling, is running against former Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), whose confirmation was rejected by the State Senate earlier this year. Kapanke ran against Shilling in November 2016 and only lost by 61 votes.

 

State Assembly

 

All 99 State Assembly seats are up for election. Eighteen seats are uncontested, and 81 seats will be determined by the General Election. 

• Assembly District 13: Incumbent State Representative Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) won re-election in November 2018 with just over 51% of the vote. Hutton faces Sara Rodriguez (D-Brookfield) on November 3.

• Assembly District 14: Assembly Republicans are heavily targeting this seat after State Representative Robyn Vining (D-Wauwatosa) flipped the seat to Democratic control in November 2018 by just 138 votes. Vining faces Bonnie Lee (R-Wauwatosa) on November 3.

• Assembly District 23: Incumbent State Representative Jim Ott (R-Mequon) won re-election in November 2018 with just under 52% of the vote. Ott faces Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay) on November 3.

• Assembly District 51: Incumbent Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) won re-election by 723 votes in November 2016 and by 332 votes in November 2018. Novak faces Kriss Marion (D- Blanchardville) on November 3.

• Assembly District 74: Assembly Republicans have identified this seat as a possible flip after a majority of the voters in the district voted for President Trump in 2016. Incumbent State Representative Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield) was uncontested in 2016. She is being challenged by James Bolen (R-Cable) on November 3.

• Assembly District 92: State Representative Treig Pronschinske (R-Mondovi) won this seat in November 2016 after defeating incumbent Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau) with 52% of the vote. However, Pronschinske easily won re-election with 55% of the vote in November 2018. He is being challenged by Amanda WhiteEagle (D-Black River Falls) on November 3.

•  Assembly District 94: Assembly Republicans have identified this seat as a possible flip after a majority of the voters in the district voted for President Trump in 2016. Incumbent State Representative Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) won re-election with nearly 53% of the vote in 2016. He is being challenged by Kevin Hoyer (R-West Salem) on November 3.