Wisconsin is looking for citizens to serve as poll workers for the November 3, 2020 election.  Many of our veteran poll workers have to sit this one out, so we need younger citizens to step up!  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many Wisconsin cities, towns and villages are looking for extra volunteers to assist with running the election.  

To be a poll worker, a person must:

• Be a qualified elector of the county in which the municipality is located (i.e., an adult citizen of the United States who has resided in the election district for 28 consecutive days and is not otherwise disqualified to vote)
• Be able to read and write fluently in the English language
• NOT be a candidate for any office to be voted on at the polling place at that election.

Poll workers do everything from check-in voters, help people register to vote, check photo IDs and process absentee ballots.  Your local clerk will provide you with training prior to election day for the job you will be doing.  This is a great opportunity for high school and college students to get involved with the democratic process!

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You may be eligible to vote prior to the election as an absentee or early voter. State laws vary greatly, so be sure to pay attention to the information provided by your election officials, or contact your local election office for help.

Your state may require you to have a valid excuse to vote absentee. Acceptable excuses vary by state. Most include:

• Being unable to get to your polling place due to illness, injury, or disability.
• Being on business travel or vacation outside of your county or city of residence on Election Day
• Being a student at an out-of-state college or university

This table shows which states require an excuse and the excuses each state will accept.

For information about absentee and/or early voting where you live, click the button below.

Apply for an Absentee Ballot

866-OUR-VOTE is a nationwide, free, hotline staffed by trained legal volunteers to help you deal with election day challenges. If you can’t resolve the issue, call 866-OUR-VOTE to see if there are other steps that can be taken. If you are able to resolve your issue, congrats! Call 866-OUR-VOTE anyway. Your call is a data point that voting rights advocates can use to try and address the problem you experienced on a more systematic basis after election day. Let folks who prefer a language other than English know that they can get help, too: Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA; Arabic: 844-YALLA-US; Asian & Pacific languages: 888-API-VOTE; American Sign Language video: 301-818-VOTE; Text “OUR VOTE” to 97779. 

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Calling all Marquette students! Click on the link below for for a complete list of campus resources, voting information, and frequently asked questions!

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Check out this article from NPR featuring Professor of Law, Atiba Ellis:

How the Voting Rights Act Came to Be and How It's Changed