Early, In-Person Absentee Voting Ends This Friday for Most of Wisconsin

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For Release: Monday - October 31, 2016

Election Day – Tuesday, November 8th – is Just Eight Days Away

Early, in-person absentee voting will end for most of Wisconsin this Friday, November 4th – though in some municipalities you'll still be able to cast an early absentee ballot as late as Saturday, November 5th (e.g., Milwaukee) or Sunday, the 6th (e.g., Madison).

For more information about early voting in your city, town or village, contact your municipal clerk.

If you are voting with an absentee ballot by mail, remember – it must be RECEIVED by your municipal clerk no later than 8:00 PM on Election Day. So get your ballot in the mail ASAP!

More on what you need to know about casting an early, absentee ballot in-person or by mail.

Before you cast your ballot, make sure you are registered to vote at your current address. Go to MyVote.WI.gov, select "Register to vote," and enter your name and date of birth.

If you find out that you are not already registered to vote at your current residence, you can still register in your clerk's office – and at some early voting locations (check with your municipal clerk) – until close of business this Friday – or at the polls on November 8th. When you register to vote, you'll need to show a proof of residence document (hard copy or electronic on your cell phone or tablet).

More information on voter registration is here.


And don't forget an ID.

You will need to present one of the acceptable forms of ID pictured left when voting in Wisconsin, so take a moment and check to see if you have the ID you need to cast a ballot early or on Election Day.

(Click image to enlarge)

If you don't have an acceptable ID, review the information on our downloadable fact sheet on voter ID and/or visit: Bring It to the Ballot.

And do NOT give up on voting just because you do not have an ID!

Our partners at VoteRiders can help you get an acceptable form of ID for voting from your local DMV before next Tuesday's election. Just call one of these two voter ID hotline numbers for assistance: (608) 729-7720 or (414) 882-8622.


Are you (or do you know) a college student voting in Wisconsin?

Here are "Three Things College Students Need to Do To Vote in Wisconsin."

Have voting questions or problems?

Common Cause in Wisconsin is once again partnering with the nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, to provide "guidance, information and help to any American, regardless of who that voter is casting a ballot for."



Election Protection’s highly-trained legal volunteers are available to assist voters with any questions or problems, no matter how simple or complex. Voters may call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) toll-free with any questions or issues that may arise. Spanish-speaking voters may seek assistance through the 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (1-888-839-8682) hotline.

Do you need a ride to the polls?

CC/WI has both identified and recruited organizations and individual volunteers across the state willing to offer free rides to the polls. The latest list of free ride options is available on our website here.

If you are interested in being a driver or know of any folks in your area offering this service during this last week of early voting, on Election Day, or both, please contact CC/WI by email so that we can add them to our list!

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CONTACT:

Jay Heck

608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)


For Voting Information, contact:

Sandra Miller
Director of Information Services & Outreach
608/658-2109
smiller@commoncause.org

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

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Common Cause Joins 7th Circuit Challenge to Wisconsin Barriers to Youth Vote

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Media Contacts:
David Vance (202) 736-5712 or dvance@commoncause.org
Jay Heck (608) 256-2686 (O) (608) 512-9363 (C) or jheck@commoncause.org

For Release: Friday - October 28, 2016

Common Cause Joins 7th Circuit Challenge to Wisconsin Barriers to Youth Vote

Common Cause filed an amicus curiae brief on Wednesday in One Wisconsin Inst. v. Thomsen before the 7th Circuit urging the appellate court to take a fresh look at Wisconsin’s cuts to election reforms previously utilized by youth voters. Months earlier, the Western District of Wisconsin struck down the state’s photo ID law on 14th Amendment grounds but failed to resurrect a number of provisions – 8 in total – struck down by the state in violation of the 26th Amendment, that made voting easier for youth.

"We applaud the lower court for cutting early voting restrictions," said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. "But the court needed to go farther. It needed to undo the legislature's limitations on younger voters. Millennials, in particular, by virtue of sheer numbers, have a lot of clout these days. Our youth have an important role to play in national politics, just as they did in 1971, when the 26th Amendment was passed. It's time for the courts to acknowledge their full right to the franchise, and stop these state efforts to curb their participation."

Between 2011 and 2015, the Wisconsin legislature imposed a strict photo ID requirement and cut a number of strong reforms that made voting more accessible for younger people, particularly students.

"Since Wisconsin's birth in 1848, higher education and our university and college students have been a central element of our development as a beacon for democracy and enlightenment in the nation," said Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause Wisconsin. “The recent, unconstitutional abridgement of college and university students' ability to vote in this state is in an affront to our tradition and a barrier to our ability to produce engaged and informed citizens and a brighter future for Wisconsin."

State legislatures must acknowledge the contributions of youth and put an end to the vote suppressive tactics passed across the country over the past few years. As we note in our report, Tuning In and Turning Out, strict photo ID laws can hurt young people’s turnout, just as they do people of color and working Americans. Other states, though, are moving in the right direction, adding strong reforms such as preregistration to ensure that eligible youth start voting – and continue voting. Our democracy has too much at stake to have it any other way.

The 26th Amendment, which passed in 1971 quicker than any of our others, reduced the voting age from 21 to 18. As then-President Nixon noted when certifying it, "The reason I believe that your generation, the 11 million new voters, will do so much for America at home is that you will infuse into this nation some idealism, some courage, some stamina, some high moral purpose, that this country always needs.” Common Cause fought hard then to ensure young people could vote, and continues to do so today – as an organization of 625,000 members, including thousands of youth – to ensure the franchise is accessible to all eligible voters, no matter their age.

The Institute for Public Representation at Georgetown Law represented Common Cause in this matter.

To read the brief, click here.

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Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.

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Contact:

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)

jheck@commoncause.org

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI  53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

Read More...

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Swing State Report Faults Wisconsin Voter ID Law But Praises Other Voting Measures

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For Release: Thursday - October 27, 2016

Swing State Report Faults Wisconsin Voter ID Law But Praises Other Voting Measures

Wisconsin should drop its fight to preserve an unneeded, vote-suppressing, voter identification requirement and move to join the five states that register eligible citizens automatically when they do business at motor vehicle and other state offices, Common Cause says in a report released yesterday.

Protecting the Vote in 2016: A Look at 11 Swing States praises the state’s use of online registration and same day registration, allowing voters to register at the same time they cast their ballots. It also rates the state “excellent” for using voting machines that provide voters with a paper record and for its refusal to accept ballots cast using the internet. Those practices enhance ballot security, the authors argue.

"This is the first presidential election in which Wisconsinites will need to show one of a fairly narrow array of photo ID in order to cast a vote and have it count,” said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin. “We urge everyone to check ahead of time – now would be best – to ensure they have what they need to have their voice heard on November 8th."

The report is intended to serve as a guidebook for voters seeking to navigate state laws impacting their exercise of the right to vote. It encourages every eligible voter to register and cast a ballot and emphasizes that studies show that those who make a plan, including how and where to vote, are more likely to follow through and succeed. Knowing what to expect at the polling place on Election Day helps voters flesh out such a plan and knowing your rights assists you in securing your ballot.

“As Americans we should encourage every eligible person we know to vote. But with the release of Protecting the Vote 2016, Common Cause lays bare the lengths some state legislatures have gone to erect barriers making it harder for some Americans to vote,” said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. “Once voters learn laws they thought made elections safer, like voter ID requirements, actually prevent hundreds of thousands of eligible people from voting, they are more likely to see it as a manipulation of the system and reject it. It is critically important that voters exercise their constitutional right, so take a few minutes to learn more, because the best way to fight back against politicians gaming the system to silence your voice is to make a plan to vote.”

In addition to Wisconsin, the report focuses on the swing states of Colorado, Iowa, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The report provides a comprehensive overview of voting practices – from how voters register to what they can expect at the polling place, to what states do to ensure ballots are accurately counted – in 11 swing states where races are tight and single votes can make a difference.

The report examines and summarizes each state’s laws impacting voters and rates them as “excellent,” “good,” “satisfactory,” “needs improvement” and “unsatisfactory.”

The report reviews:

• Voter ID: State requirements for voter identification at the precinct, noting whether the laws are fair or vote-suppressive.
• Voter Registration: Options each state provides for voter registration, understanding that more opportunities increase the chances that those who have been politically marginalized can participate;
• Voting Place Challenges: State laws governing challenges to voters at the polling place on Election Day, given that such efforts are often unsubstantiated, sometimes intimidating, and can lead to illegal behavior;
• Provisional Ballots: State procedures for counting provisional ballots, because some practices leave some voters voiceless;
• Paper Trails: Whether a state provides a paper record for each vote, verifiable by the voter, as glitches can occur with voting machines;
• Post-Election Audits: State policies and practices for robust post-election audits to detect and if necessary correct outcome-changing miscounts;
• Internet Ballot Transmission: State laws on the transmission of marked ballots over the internet, where because of the limits of current technology they can be intercepted and undetectably altered.

Authored by Allegra Chapman, Susannah Goodman and Dale Eisman of Common Cause and Pamela Smith of Verified Voting, the report also aims to encourage election officials, state administrators, and legislators to improve existing election systems. America has no perfect voting system; all states could do more to provide access to voters and upgrade technology and safety measures. States that scored “needs improvement” or “unsatisfactory” in our ratings should heed the recommendations to improve their systems.

To read the full report and report cards on each of the battleground states, click here.

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Contact:

Jay Heck
608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)

jheck@commoncause.org

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI  53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

Read More...

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Today is the Last Day to Register to Vote By Mail in Wisconsin

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For Release: Wednesday - October 19, 2016

Today at 5:00 PM is the deadline for Wisconsin's "open" voter registration period. What this means is that all registration forms sent by mail must be postmarked today, October 19th.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the "closed" voter registration period. During this time, you can register in your municipal clerk's offices or at early in-person absentee voting sites up until November 4th (the Friday before Election Day) at 5:00 PM or close of business, whichever is later. You will need to bring a proof of residence document to complete your registration (this document can be shown electronically). If your driver’s license or state ID card has your current address, that’s all you need.

Examples of proof of residence documents are here.

If you are not able to register to vote before November 4th, you will still be able to do so (as long as you bring a proof of residence document with you) on Election Day. However, to avoid long lines, we urge you to register to vote as soon as possible.

Remember, you cannot make your voice heard at the ballot box unless you are registered to vote. Don't put it off. Register today!

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CONTACT:

Jay Heck

608/256-2686 (office)
608/512-9363 (cell)


For Voting Information, contact:

Sandra Miller
Director of Information Services & Outreach
608/658-2109
smiller@commoncause.org

Common Cause in Wisconsin
152 W. Johnson St., Suite 212
Madison, WI 53703
608/256-2686

Want Good Government?
Join Common Cause in Wisconsin!
www.CommonCauseWisconsin.org

Read More...

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