Wisconsin voters are required to bring a photo ID with them when they vote. So what qualifies as a valid photo ID and what should you do if you do not have the proper ID?
According to Ready Wisconsin, the following are valid forms of ID — even if expired after the date of the most recent general election (November 8, 2016):
- A Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) driver license (even if privileges have been revoked or suspended)
- A Wisconsin DOT-issued ID card
- A Wisconsin DOT-issued ID card or driver’s license without a photo (issued under the religious exemption)
- Military ID card
- A U.S. passport
- An ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
- A photo ID card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college. The ID must list the date of issuance, signature of student and an expiration date no later than two years after the date of issuance. You must also bring a separate document that proves enrollment.
The following IDs are acceptable if unexpired:
- Veteran’s photo ID card issued by the Veterans Health Administration
- Certificate of naturalization that was not issued earlier than two years before the date of the election for which the ID is presented
- A driving receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- An ID card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT
- A temporary ID card issued by Wisconsin DOT through the ID Petition Process
- A citation or notice of intent to revoke or suspend a Wisconsin DOT-issued driver license that is dated within 60 days of the date of the election
Here are a few important things for voters to know:
- The address on your ID does not need to be current.
- The name on your ID does not need to be an exact match for your name in the poll book (Elizabeth for Beth; Susan for Sue; Richard for Rich, etc)
You can get a free Wisconsin state ID card from your local Division of Motor Vehicles office. To do so, you will need to bring documents that prove the following (please note that some documents — like a birth certificate — fulfill more than one of the categories below0. Bring original (not copies) documents that prove:
- Name and date of birth
- Identity
- Citizenship or legal status
- Wisconsin residency
Click on this link for a complete list of documents that you can bring to secure a Wisconsin ID card.
For victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, it’s important to note that there are programs in place to help you keep your address confidential in order to ensure your safety. A list of state address confidentiality programs is available here.
For more information, see the Bring It to the Ballot website for Wisconsin.
