Absentee Voting

Under Wisconsin law, voters do not need a reason to vote absentee. Any voter who prefers to vote by absentee ballot may request one. You have several options for requesting an absentee ballot and casting your vote.

 

Voters will be required to show proper photo identification (ID).

 

Absentee ballot requests will be processed within 24 hours of receiving the request and acceptable photo ID.

 

All absentee ballots are sent to the polls to be counted on Election Day.

 

For federal elections, absentee ballots will be in the mail beginning 47 days before Election Day. For elections that do not include federal offices, absentee ballots will be in the mail beginning three weeks before Election Day.

 

Voters may verify their registration, polling location, sample ballot, and absentee ballot status at MyVote Wisconsin.

 

View absentee voting information from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.


Update:  Guidance on Absentee Ballot Return Options Under the Federal Voting Rights Act

 

Pursuant to the Voting Rights Act, any Wisconsin voter who requires assistance with mailing or delivering their absentee ballot to the municipal clerk because of a disability must be permitted to receive such assistance by a person of the voter's choice, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter's union.


In administering future elections, the City of Sun Prairie shall comply with the above statutory requirement.


What does this mean?

When we are presented with an absentee ballot delivered in-person to the Clerk's Office, we will ask the following questions:

  • Are you the voter?  If not, then:
  • Are you delivering the voter's ballot because the voter has determined that they require assistance returning their ballot due to their disability?  If yes, then:
  • Are you someone other than the voter's employer, an agent of that employer, or an officer or agent of the voter's union?  If yes, then the ballot will be accepted.

If you are interested in more information regarding this issue, please see the following documents:

April 4, 2023 - Spring Election

In-Person Absentee Voting Hours and Location

In-Person Absentee Voting will take place at:

 

City Hall, 300 E Main Street on the following dates and times:

March 21, 2023 – March 24, 2023:              8:00am - 6:00pm

March 25, 2023:                                              8:00am - 12:00pm

March 27, 2023 – March 30, 2023:              8:00am - 6:00pm

March 31, 2023:                                              8:00am - 5:00pm

April 1, 2023:                                                   8:00am - 12:00pm

                                                                                  (No Voter Registration, only Absentee Voting on this date)

 

Voters are also able to request absentee ballots to be sent to them through the mail at MyVote Wisconsin.

All voters requesting a ballot must show photo identification unless qualified for an exception. 

 

View the photo ID requirements and exceptions here.  

Returning your Absentee Ballot

If a ballot was mailed to you, there are two ways to return the completed ballot to the Clerk's Office. 

 

  • Mail your ballot to:  City of Sun Prairie Clerk's Office, 300 E Main St, Sun Prairie, WI 53590  [All mailed ballots come with a self-addressed, stamped envelope for returning completed ballots.]
  • Bring your ballot to the Clerk's Office:  Located in City Hall (300 E Main St) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to  4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.

Request an Absentee Ballot Online

Voters may request an absentee ballot on MyVote Wisconsin.

Absentee Voting in Care Facilities

The State Legislature approved 2013 Wisconsin Act 159 relating to absentee voting in residential care facilities and retirement home. Dates and times these services will be provided will be posted as soon as we have the information.

Delivery by Mail

An Absentee Ballot Request form is available on the Wisconsin Elections Commission website. Absentee Ballot Request forms are available in:

  1. English
  2. Spanish
  3. Hmong

Although absentee ballot request forms are available, you are not required to use a form. You may send a written request that includes:

  1. Name
  2. Sun Prairie address where you are registered
  3. Address the ballot should be mailed to, if different than your registered address
  4. List of election(s) for which you are requesting an absentee ballot
  5. Signature
  6. Copy of photo ID, if not already on file in the Clerk’s Office.

 

Mail the request to:

City Clerk’s Office
  300 E. Main Street
  Sun Prairie, WI 53590

 

Alternatively, you may email your request to us.

The deadline for requesting an absentee ballot by mail is 5:00 p.m. the Thursday before Election Day.


*****New Feature*****

View a short video with step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the Wisconsin Application for Absentee Ballot.


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                                                    PLAY VIDEO

Request a Permanent Absentee Ballot

If you are indefinitely confined, meaning you have a difficult time getting to the polls due to age, illness, infirmity, or disability, you can receive an absentee ballot on a permanent basis.  Print and mail the Absentee Ballot Request form to City Clerk’s Office, 300 E Main St, Sun Prairie or email the Absentee Ballot Request form (PDF) to Voting@cityofsunprairie.com. Remember to check the 3rd option on line item 6.

Military Absentee Voters

Members of the military are not required to register to vote, but must complete forms to vote absentee. Military voters may download their absentee ballots online.

Voting Absentee in the Hospital

If you are in the hospital and unable to go to the polling place on Election Day, you may receive an absentee ballot by appointing an agent to deliver and return your completed ballot. The voter and assigned agent need to sign the Absentee Ballot Request Form (Fillable PDF). The agent information is listed on line 7 of the request form. The agent needs to bring the hospitalized voter's photo ID to the Clerk's Office when dropping off the form.

 

This option is available up to seven (7) days before Election Day.

Voting Absentee at Qualified Care Facilities

Special Voting Deputies (SVDs) are appointed by the municipal clerk to bring absentee ballots to qualified care facilities.

 

Special Voting Deputies will always conduct absentee voting at Qualified Care Facilities three weeks before every election.  Contact our office for specific times for each location.

Permanent Overseas Absentee Voters

Voter who have moved overseas with no intent to return to live in the United States may continue voting for federal offices from their last Wisconsin address. These voters may register and request absentee ballots using the Federal Postcard Application. Voters who are permanently overseas do not need to send Proof of Residence with their voter registration.

 

Alternatively, Permanent Overseas Voters may download their absentee ballots online.