VOTE EARLY (BUT NOT OFTEN). Early voting in the City of Eau Claire in 2020.

Don’t worry, it’s almost over! Election season, we mean. At least, depending on how close the vote tallies are, things should be settled not long after Election Day – Tuesday, Nov. 5. If, amid the ongoing tsunami of online ads, political postcards, robocalls, and texts begging for bucks, you’re unsure exactly how, when, and where to vote, we’ve got you covered.

In addition to a new president, voters in the Chippewa Valley will be selecting a member of the U.S. House in the 3rd District and a U.S. senator as well as voting to fill a number of state Legislative seats and county offices. There’s also a local referendum to boost funding for the Eau Claire Area School District and a statewide constitutional amendment about voter eligibility. Here are some answers you may have about voting in the Valley.

SO WHAT’S ON MY BALLOT?

The easiest way to find out is to go online to myvote.wi.gov, a handy website created by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Click the “What’s On My Ballot?” icon, enter your address, and – voila! – you’ll get the rundown of all the candidates, referendums, and amendments.

NEED TO REGISTER OR FIND WHERE TO VOTE?

If you’re a first-time voter, if you’ve moved, or if you just want to double-check that you are actually registered to vote, visit myvote.wi.gov. There you can confirm your registration, request an absentee ballot, learn what kind of photo ID you’ll need, locate your polling place, and (as mentioned above) see what will be on your ballot. If you aren’t registered to vote already, it’s too late to do so by mail or online (the deadline was Oct. 16). However, you can still register in person by 5pm Friday, Nov. 1, at your municipal clerk’s office. Find out where that is by putting in your address at myvote.wi.gov. Plus, you can also register at the polls on Election Day.

WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH VOTER ID?

According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, “You will need to show an original copy of an acceptable photo ID to vote at your polling place or to cast an in-person absentee ballot at your municipal clerk’s office.” So what counts as “acceptable”? If you’ve got a regular Wisconsin driver’s license, you’re in the clear (as long as it’s either unexpired or expired after that last general election, which was Nov. 8, 2022). You can also use a state ID card (which you can get free from the DMV), a U.S. military-issued ID card, a U.S. passport, a university-issued ID card, and several other kinds of ID. You can find all the details at bringit.wi.gov.

WANT TO VOTE ABSENTEE?

Anybody in Wisconsin can get an absentee ballot by mail for any reason. However, considering the short amount of time between when you’re reading this and Election Day, if you don’t already have an absentee ballot in your hand your best bet is to vote early in person (see below). However, if you still really want to request an absentee ballot, you can do so at myvote.wi.gov – but do it pronto! Remember, the ballot has to be returned by 8pm on Tuesday, Nov. 5 – when the regular polls close – or else it won’t be counted. (Considering how slow the mail can be, mailing it back at this point is a gamble.)

If you’d rather hand-deliver your absentee ballot, you can do that, too: If you live in the City of Eau Claire, you can drop your ballot off at the elections office across the alley from City Hall (203 S. Farwell St.); you can put it in the big red Ballot Drop Box on Grand Avenue next to City Hall; you can drop it off at the in-person absentee voting site (see more on that below); or you can bring it to your polling site on Election Day between 7am and 8pm. Remember: These are all rules for voters who live in the City of Eau Claire. If you live in another community, contact your municipal clerk’s office for details about your absentee options.

WANT TO VOTE EARLY IN PERSON?

The City of Eau Claire (and many other municipalities in Wisconsin) offer in-person absentee voting – essentially allowing you to vote early so you don’t have to worry about getting to the polls on Election Day. You’ll even be able to register to vote on site if you’re not registered already. In Eau Claire, in-person absentee voting started Oct. 22 and will end on Friday, Nov. 1, at City Hall. As in other recent elections, the voting will be done via a drive-through (although you don’t need to be in a vehicle – just walk up). The hours are 9am-4pm Monday-Fridays. (And again, if you live in another community, contact your municipal clerk’s office for details about early voting options.)

WHAT ABOUT VOTING ON THE BIG DAY?

If you’re the kind of citizen who gets a patriotic rush from voting in-person on Election Day itself then find your polling site (again, myvote.wi.gov can help) and show up between 7am and 8pm on Tuesday, Nov. 5. After exercising your right, you’ll come away with a sense of satisfaction and (most likely) a cool sticker!