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Voting in your state

Voting in Wisconsin, 2026

Every date and deadline for the November 3 general election, from registering to the final certificate, and who signs off on the result.

Right nowEarly voting is open in Wisconsin through Sunday, November 1.Election Day in 7 days

Every date, in order

  1. Tue, Oct 20 · passed
    Early voting begins
  2. Sun, Nov 1 · 5 days
    Early voting ends
    In-person absentee voting can start no earlier than Tuesday October 20 and end no later than Sunday November 1, 2026, with hours set by each municipality.1
  3. Tue, Nov 3 · 7 days
    Election Day; Registration deadline; Mail ballots must arrive
    Voters can register at their polling place on Election Day, and online registration closes Wednesday October 14, 2026. Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.1
  4. Tue, Nov 17 · 21 days
    County/Local canvass; County/Local certification
    County boards of canvassers complete their canvass no later than 14 days after the election, November 17.2
  5. Tue, Dec 1 · 35 days
    State canvass; State certification
    The statewide canvass is due by Tuesday, December 1, 2026. The statewide canvass is complete by the first day of December.2
  6. After certification
    Deadline to contest the result
    There is no contest procedure, but recount results can be appealed to circuit court within five days after the recount ends.3

Questions people ask about voting in Wisconsin

Q. When does early voting end in Wisconsin?

In-person absentee voting can start no earlier than Tuesday October 20 and end no later than Sunday November 1, 2026, with hours set by each municipality.

Q. When is the deadline to register to vote in Wisconsin?

Voters can register at their polling place on Election Day, and online registration closes Wednesday October 14, 2026.

Q. What is the last day to request a mail ballot in Wisconsin?

Absentee requests by mail or online must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday October 29, 2026.

Q. When does my mail ballot have to arrive in Wisconsin?

Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Q. Who certifies the election in Wisconsin, and by when?

The County Board of Canvassers receives results, develops county-wide totals and certifies them, and reports it to the election commission. County/Local results must be certified by Tuesday, November 17, 2026. The Wisconsin Elections Commission canvasses and certifies the statewide results on December 1. The chair of the Elections Commission must certify the results by December 1, 2026. But Certificates issue only after the recount-petition window closes. Wis. Stat. § 7.70(5)(a).

Q. What happens after the count in Wisconsin, and when is there a recount?

WEC issues each winner a certificate “under the seal of the commission,” plus certificates attested by the administrator and addressed to the U.S. House. Wis. Stat. § 7.70(5)(a). The Governor does not sign; in practice the chair signs alone, with no Commission vote (2022 and 2024 canvass minutes).

Q. How long is there to contest an election in Wisconsin?

There is no contest procedure, but recount results can be appealed to circuit court within five days after the recount ends.

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Sources

  1. Vote.org, Wisconsin Election Center, https://www.vote.org/state/wisconsin/
  2. NCSL, Canvass Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/canvass-deadlines
  3. NCSL, Contested Election Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/contested-election-deadlines
  4. boltsmag.org, https://boltsmag.org/whats-on-the-ballot/who-counts-our-elections/
  5. NASS, State Election Canvassing Timeframes and Recount Thresholds, https://www.nass.org/node/2455
  6. NCSL, Election Certification Deadlines, https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-certification-deadlines

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