What you should do now to safely vote in Wisconsin during COVID-19

It’s been said so many times at this point, it’s almost cliché: the coronavirus pandemic has upended every part of our society. Every one of us is having to rethink every decision we make, and every interaction we have, in the context of risk: What’s the risk to my health, and am I risking the health of those around me?

While there’s certainly some risk in everything we do these days, we know that there’s also a spectrum. On one end, we know that large, sporting-event-type gatherings carry greater risk, while going for a walk in a local park with a mask on is comparatively safer.

In-person voting on Election Day is on the relatively higher-risk end of activities. That’s why states across the country have been scrambling since the outbreak began to adapt their voting systems to accommodate more mail-in or absentee voting, while maintaining sufficient and socially-distant in-person locations. With a little over five months until the November presidential election and primary elections in some Wisconsin communities happening in August, state officials need to keep that effort going full steam. (To see upcoming election dates in your community and what’s on the ballot, visit myvote.wi.gov.)

All the noise and partisan fighting about voting by mail, especially at the national level, shouldn’t obscure the fact that Wisconsinites can take several steps right now to get ready for the next election and safely participate in democracy. 

Update or confirm your voter registration

Don’t wait to update your voter registration, especially if you’ve moved since the last election. Even if you haven’t changed addresses, it’s good practice to look up your registration info to make sure that everything is correct. If it’s not correct, your ballot or application will be sent to the wrong place.

Most states (39), including Wisconsin, allow you to update your voter registration online which, besides being easier and faster, is obviously much safer in a pandemic. To update your Wisconsin voter registration, go here.

Request your absentee ballot

All states allow some mail-in voting, but policies can differ dramatically. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, any Wisconsin voter could request an absentee ballot for any reason. If you haven’t already done so, you should request one. Additionally, in the aftermath of the spring elections debacle, Wisconsin election officials agreed to mail most registered voters absentee ballot applications. How and when that will happen, though, is still unclear. If you’re unsure whether or not you’re registered to vote or will be receiving an absentee ballot, you can check your registration status and request an absentee ballot here.

If you have to vote in-person, be prepared

While mail-in voting is by far the safest option, there are still many people who need to vote in person for one reason or another. If you need to vote in person, make sure you’re prepared.  Check the location of your polling place, and see if early voting is an option, because crowding and lines are less likely in the days before Election Day. And of course, wear a mask, practice social distancing and bring hand sanitizer when you do actually go to the polls to vote.

Stay up to date on changes

Things are changing rapidly by the day. The best way you can stay prepared to vote in 2020 is to be informed as best as possible. Check the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s Voter Information Center for updates and changes to election plans.  

While many future plans are uncertain at the moment, Election Day 2020 on November 3 isn’t one of them. There are concrete steps you can and should take now to ensure your own safety and ability to participate in our democracy.