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Voter Registration
Every citizen of the United States of America age 18 or older who has resided in an election district where the citizen desires to vote for 28 days before any election who has not been convicted of a felony is an eligible elector. The federal Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires any person registering to vote to supply their Wisconsin Department of Transportation - issued driver's license number. If the elector has not been issued a Wisconsin driver's license, he/she must provide the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number OR their Wisconsin state ID card number. If the elector does not have a current, valid WI driver license, WI state ID card, or Social Security Number, the applicant may indicate this by filling in the appropriate circle on the registration form. The registration cannot be processed until the elector provides this information. If the voter has a current, valid Wisconsin driver license but does not know the number and did not bring it to the polling place, poll workers must allow the voter to vote by provisional ballot (the voter cannot use the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number if they have been issued a Wisconsin driver's license). The provisional ballot will not be counted until the voter either brings his or her driver’s license number to his or her polling place before the polls close at 8:00 p.m. on Election Day OR transmits (via fax, email, telephone call or personal visit) their driver license number to the municipal clerk before 4:00 pm on the Friday after the Election. The elector must also answer the following questions:
- Are you a citizen of the United States of America?
- Will you be 18 years of age on or before the election?
The registration cannot be processed until the elector answers these questions.
When registering to vote, you must provide acceptable proof of residence after the 20th day (third Wednesday) before an election in the Clerk/Treasurer's Office or at your polling place on Election Day. For purposes of voter registration, an acceptable proof of residence includes your current and complete name, including both the given name and the family name, and your current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address, if any, and the name of the municipality.
The following constitute acceptable proof of residence:
- a current and valid Wisconsin driver's license
- a current and valid Wisconsin identification card
- any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body
- any identification card issued by an employer in the normal course of business and bearing a photo of the card holder, but not including a business card
- a gas, electric or telephone service statement (utility bill) for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before Election Day
- a real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year or the year preceding the date of the election
- a residential lease which is effective for a period that includes Election Day (not for first-time voters registering by mail)
- a university, college or technical institute fee card (must include photo)
- a university, college or technical institute identification card (must include photo) · bank statement
- paycheck
- a check or other document issued by unit of government
How to Register
In Person: Register in the municipal clerk's office up to 5 p.m. or the close of business whichever is later on the Friday before the election. . Acceptable proof of residence is required after the 20th day before the election.
By Mail: The Voter Registration Application is available online. Complete the form and mail to the West Allis City Clerk/Treasurer's Office. The application must be postmarked no later than the 20th day (3rd Wednesday) before the election.
PLEASE NOTE: State and federal law now requires that any first-time voter submitting a registration application by mail provide a copy of an acceptable identifying document that provides proof of residence. (A “first-time voter” is an individual who has not voted in an election in Wisconsin.) Please note that first-time voters registering by mail may not use a residential lease as proof of residence. The copy of the form of proof of residence must be included when submitting the registration application. If a copy of proof of residence is not included, the elector will be required to supply it before being issued a ballot at the polling place or before being issued an absentee ballot in the municipal clerk’s office.
At Your Polling Place on Election Day: If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must bring proof that you reside at your present location.
NOTE: Proof of residency is required for voter registration and must be current and valid. The purpose of the proof of residency document is to establish the voter’s current address, not to prove that the voter complies with the 28 consecutive day residency requirement. The voter’s sworn statement on the registration form that they meet the 28-day requirement shall be presumed to be true unless the inspector or a challenger has first-hand knowledge sufficient to question the certification.
Photo ID Required To Vote
Begining in 2012, a photo ID is required upon voting before a ballot is issued to voters. The purpose of photo ID is to verify the identity of the voter. For additional information regarding what constitutes an acceptable photo ID, please see the document “Wisconsin New Voter Photo ID Law.”
Updating Voter Registration Information
If you move your residence or change your name, you are required to update your voter registration information. This is done by filling out form GAB-131 and sending it to your local municipal clerk's office.
Public Information and Confidentiality
Information in your voter registration record, except your date of birth, driver license number, the last four digits of your Social Security Number, and any special accommodation needs for persons with disabilities, are considered public information in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's Statewide Voter Registration System
The City of West Allis is now using the Wisconsin Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS). SVRS is an integrated information system that creates one, consolidated voter list for Wisconsin. SVRS is a comprehensive solution that collects and manages voter registration, absentee ballot requests, poll lists, voting jurisdictions/districts, and other information needed to administer elections. SVRS serves all Wisconsin municipalities and helps the State address the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and other legislative requirements. Wisconsin's SVRS will make getting voting information easier for citizens and managing elections more comprehensive for election officials. The new system was required by the Help American Vote Act of 2002, passed by Congress following the 2000 U.S. Presidential Elections. For voters, SVRS has a public section, http://vpa.wi.gov/, that allows individuals to check their registration, see where they can vote, and check which offices and candidates are on the upcoming ballot for their areas.
Wisconsin's system of local control of elections makes creation and maintenance of such a system quite a challenge because every municipality is responsible for its own elections. That means that more than 1800 local officials contribute information to the system. For more information about Wisconsin's voter registration system and election procedures, contact the City Clerk/Treasurer's Office at 414-302-8200 or the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. [Wisconsin Government Accountability Board website >>]
Accessible Voting Equipment
We are pleased to announce use of the ES&S AutoMARK. One of the requirements of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 is to provide a voting system that allows for privacy and independence in the voting process for all voters and to increase accessibility and participation to individuals with a full range of disabilities which include, but are not limited to, visual, hearing, mobility or dexterity disabilities. The breakthrough ES&S AutoMARK is a ballot marking system that allows voters to use the device to mark a ballot that is then returned to the voter for insertion into the optical scan tabulator. As we move towards greater access to voting for all, this technology will make it easier for voters with disabilities to participate in the democratic process - privately and independently.
For detailed information about the Voter Photo ID law, please visit the Government Accountability Board website or call 1-866-VOTE-WIS or contact the G.A.B. Help Desk at 608-261-2028 or TTY 1-800-947-3529.
