Sign Up For An Absentee Ballot

This letter to the editor, by Pam Fricke, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on January 15, 2026.

What’s on your January to-do list? If you haven’t already done so, add signing up for an absentee ballot (also known as voting by mail). Don’t let bad weather, travel plans or illness keep you from voting because you can’t get to your polling place.

Registering for an absentee ballot is simple. Just go to myvote. wi.gov and enter in your information. You need to do this every year; there is no carryover. If you skip voting in an election, your ability to vote by mail will automatically end. However, Wisconsin law allows voters who are indefinitely confined (due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability) to request that absentee ballots be sent automatically for every election.

We have four elections this year, with the first one coming up in a few weeks.

Feb. 17 is the spring primary election for local nonpartisan races, which include those for county supervisor, city and township council and school boards. Any race where there are more than two candidates running for the same position will be in the primary.

April 7 is the spring election for those nonpartisan local offices, as well as the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The election might also include a local ballot measure or two. In New Richmond, for example, voters will be deciding whether to keep or remove fluoride from their water.

Aug. 11 is the primary for the general election for state offices, including state assembly, governor and Congress.

Nov. 3 is the general election that will determine our new governor and other state officers, a new assembly representative and a new congressional representative.

Make sure your voice is heard at election time. Signing up for a mail-in ballot is probably the easiest thing you can check off on your to-do list.

One more thing: The U.S. Postal Service has new postmark rules. The postmark now reflects the date mail is processed by automated machines, not the drop-off date, potentially affecting time-sensitive items like your ballot or tax return. To get an accurate, same-day postmark, go to a post office counter and request a manual stamp.

Exercise your right to vote. Every vote really does count!