Be a Voter
Photo ID Information
PHOTO ID is needed every time you vote in person
If you have a Wisconsin Drivers License (DL) or ID Card, this is your photo ID for voting.
You have to show it every time you vote at the polls. For Photo ID, your DL can be expired and the printed address does not have to match the address where you are registered.
This confuses people, but you can change the address for your Drivers License with the Department of Transportation and not update your physical Drivers License. A Drivers License is issued for 10 years. If you move before it expires and you want a new card with the new address, the DMV will charge you to get a new card. For voter ID purposes, you do not need to update your card. You license can also be expired for up to 2 years. For 2021 elections, the expiration date has to be after Nov 6, 2020.
Your Wisconsin DOT-issued Drivers License or ID card does not need to be a “REAL ID” for voter ID purposes
If you do NOT have a Wisconsin Drivers License or ID card you can use the following for Photo ID
- Military ID card issued by the U.S. Uniformed Services
- A U.S. passport book or card
- A certificate of naturalization (that was issued not earlier than two years before the date of the election)
- An identification card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe in Wisconsin
- A driver license receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days from date issued)
- An identification card receipt issued by Wisconsin DOT (valid for 45 days from date issued)
- A Wisconsin DMV ID Petition Process Photo Receipt (valid for 180 days from date issued)
- A Veteran Affairs ID card (must be unexpired or have no expiration date)
- A photo identification card issued by a Wisconsin accredited university or college, or technical college that contains
the following:
-Date the card was issued
-Signature of student
-Expiration date no later than two years after date of issuance, can still be used if expired
-The university or college ID must be accompanied by a separate document that proves enrollment, such as a
tuition fee receipt, enrollment verification letter, or class schedule.
I Need a Wisconsin Photo ID for Voting
If your do not have a Wisconsin Driver License or ID card, you can get a FREE ID for voting from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles has an online guide that you can use to figure out what you need to bring to get a Wisconsin Issued ID.
An ID Petition Process is available if fees arise in order to obtain a free ID card for voting. This petition process is available for applicants unable to provide proof of name and date of birth, United States citizenship, identity, or other required documentation.
Seniors who have given up their driver’s license can get a non-expiring Wisconsin ID for voting.
Photo ID for Absentee Voting
The very first time you apply to have an absentee ballot sent to you, you must provide a copy of your photo ID. If you are doing this online, you can take a picture of your photo ID with your smart phone and then upload that picture to the myvote.wi.gov site when you fill out the application.
If you do a mail in application, then you must send a photocopy of your photo ID with your application.