How to register and vote in the Nov. 6 election

The Nov. 6 general election will bring an end to this round of nonstop political advertising, marquee statewide races for governor and U.S. senator that are garnering national attention and financing, as well as contests for lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer.

Nov. 6 is the finish line in contested races for seven of Wisconsin’s eight congressional seats along with elections in odd-numbered state Senate districts and all state Assembly districts.

Supporters of legalizing medical marijuana and adult recreational use of marijuana are anticipating voter approval of marijuana advisory referendums on the ballot in 16 counties. And 61 school districts are asking voters to approve a total of $1.4 billion worth of school funding referendums.

Here is what state residents will need to know to ensure they can use their right to vote.

Voting basics

Only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in Wisconsin.

You must be registered to vote. You can register at your local municipal clerk’s office until the close of business on Nov. 2, the Friday before the election. Or you can register at the polling place on election day. You must provide a proof of residence document when registering to vote. Among the acceptable documents: a valid driver’s license, utility bill, paycheck or pay stub, bank statement, residential lease.

Absentee voting

Wisconsin residents do not need a reason or excuse to vote absentee, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Registered voters can download the application for absentee ballot and mail it or fax it to their municipal clerk along with a copy of an acceptable photo ID. Applications must be received at the clerk’s office by 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, for the ballot to be sent to you.

A request for a ballot can be made online at www.myvote.wi.gov by clicking “Vote Absentee” by 5 p.m. Nov. 1.

Completed absentee ballots must arrive at the municipal clerk’s office before the polls close at 8 p.m. Nov. 6.

Early voting

In-person absentee voting is known as early voting. Contact the municipal clerk of your community for dates, hours and locations of early voting.

Registered voters can go to a municipal clerk’s office or other designated early voting location to request a ballot. They will need to show an acceptable photo ID.

The ballot must be completed at that time, sealed in the proper envelope, and returned to staff. Nov. 2 is the last day to vote in-person absentee in the clerk’s office of most municipalities in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee will keep it going until Nov. 4, a Sunday, at the Zeidler Municipal Building and several other locations.

Know your polling place

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 6. Your assigned polling place is based on where you live. You can find your polling place by entering your address at myvote.wi.gov. If you have moved, you must vote at the polling place for your new address if you have lived there for at least 10 days and you will have to register. Voters who have moved within Wisconsin less than 10 days before the election must vote from their previous address.

Show that ID

All registered voters will need to show an acceptable photo ID to vote at a polling place. Among the photo IDs acceptable for voting are a Wisconsin Department of Transportation-issued driver license; a Wisconsin DOT-issued identification card; a U.S. passport; a military ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service; a veteran’s photo ID card issued by the Veterans Health Administration of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs; and an ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin. The address on your ID doesn’t have to match your current address.