Colbert touts voting in Wisconsin, elsewhere

Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert is jumping into the get-outthe-vote movement with both feet — and, eventually, 51 videos.

And Wisconsin topped the chart (or so Colbert says).

Tuesday night, the host of CBS’ “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” announced he was launching a new website, BetterKnowABallot.com, with links to each state and Washington, D.C.

As with those for other states, Wisconsin’s voting guide site includes links to information on how to register to vote, how to request an absentee ballot and how to vote early in the Nov. 3 presidential election.

Colbert said on Tuesday night’s show that all of the state’s sites will include an introductory video from him. In his video for Wisconsin, the fourth of the first eight videos to post Tuesday, he calls Wisconsin “the greatest state in the nation,” in part because it is home to “so many festivals,” reciting a litany from Summerfest to Crusherfest.

“Basically, any time more than four Wisconsinites gather, it is legally classified a fest,” Colbert says. (Actually, Colbert appears to call every state the greatest state in the nation. He also calls each state the smartest. While the videos follow a template, they are tailored to each state.)

Colbert then gives a short-version description of how to request an absentee ballot and details how you can vote in person. And he caps it off with a cluster of Wisconsin-friendly dad jokes.

“Remember, Wisconsin is a swing state, so it is more important than ever to cast your vote,” Colbert says. “But I won’t badger you about it. Because besides being your state animal, badger are also a rabies vector. Let’s crack open some tall frosty democracy, you beautiful cheeseheads!”

CBS BROADCASTING INC. Stephen Colbert launches a how-to-vote campaign called “Better Know A Ballot” on Tuesday’s installment of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.”