Wisconsin Election Day Voter Guide 2022: Who's Running And How To Vote

WISCONSIN — Election Day in Wisconsin is now less than a month away. Voters across the Badger State will decide on Nov. 8 who gets to be the state's next governor plus who will be sent to represent Wisconsin in the U.S. Congress.

Voters will also see races for Wisconsin's legislature, attorney general, municipal judges, non-binding referendums and more. Polls will open at 7 a.m. on Election Day and close at 8 p.m. If you get in line by poll closing time you can still wait in line to vote.

Wisconsin has same-day voter registration, so as long as you get to your polling place on election day with photo identification and proof of residence, you'll be able to cast your ballot in the election. There are numerous other ways to vote ahead of time, which don't require you to head to the polls.

Check registration, request ballots, and figure out where to vote at myvote.wi.gov.

If you want to register ahead of time, there are three main ways to do it.

• You can register to vote by mail until Oct. 19. To do so, send a voter registration form and proof of residence to your local clerk.
• You can register to vote online until Oct. 19. You can register online so long as you can match your name, birthday, driver's license/ID number and address with what the Wisconsin DMV has on file.
• You can register early in-person at your municipal clerk's office (often located at your city or village hall) until Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. Some clerk's offices may vary in hours.

Wisconsin voters are allowed to vote absentee in any election. You can have your clerk mail your ballot to you and you can mail it back, or you can even vote early or return your ballot in-person.

Be aware of these deadlines when choosing to vote absentee. Also be aware that after a Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling, dropboxes are not allowed.

You can request an absentee ballot online through myvote.wi.gov.

If you want to vote absentee, here are the main ways to do it:

• If you already have an absentee ballot request on file, clerks are required to start sending them out to you by mail by Sept. 22. After that, clerks have 48 business hours to mail a ballot after they receive an absentee request.
• The final deadline to request an absentee ballot (for most voters) is Nov. 3 at 5 p.m., less than a week before the election. If you do this, you will want to return your ballot in person because the U.S. Post Office recommends voters mail their ballot's back by Nov. 1.
• You can vote early in-person at your clerk's office from Oct. 25 until most often the Friday before Election Day. You can do this during business hours. Some clerks' hours may differ and some clerks may allow early absentee voting in-person until Nov. 6.

No matter how you got your absentee ballot, it must be returned to your clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, whether that's by mail or in-person.

Here are the statewide candidates and what else voters can expect to see on their ballots:

At the top of the election is the governor's race. Incumbent Tony Evers, a Democrat, is vying for a second term. Meanwhile construction executive Tim Michels, a Republican, is looking to oust Evers. The race has become one of the most expensive in the country this year with over $55 million poured in by Sept. 22 from both sides, according to AdImpact Politics.

Meanwhile, in the race for U.S. Senate, incumbent Ron Johnson, a Republican, is facing Lt. Gov Mandela Barnes, a Democrat. At the statewide level, Josh Kaul is vying for another term as Attorney General, while several legislative seats are up.

In Milwaukee County, voters will get to see two referendums on Nov. 8. One will ask if the Wisconsin legislature should prohibit the import, sale, manufacture, transfer or possession of semi-automatic "military-style" firearms. The other will ask voters if they think people over 21 should be allowed to use marijuana and if its sale should be regulated and taxed.

SEE ALSO: Milwaukee Co. Plans Referendum On Gun Restrictions, But Not Abortion

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors also considered adding a question on abortion but it was rejected. Neither of the referendums that made it through will bind any action, but they may gather opinions.

Downballot, voters can expect to see races for county supervisors, state assembly and senate, local judges and more.

Here are the candidates:

Governor/Lt. Governor

• Tony Evers/Sara Rodriguez - Democratic.
• Tim Michels/Roger Roth - Republican.
• Joan Ellis Beglinger - Independent.

Attorney General

• Josh Kaul - Democrat.
• Eric Toney - Republican.

Secretary of State

• Doug La Follette - Democratic.
• Amy Lynn Loudenbeck - Republican.
• Neil Harmon - Libertarian.
• Sharyl R. McFarland - Wisconsin Green Party.

State Treasurer

• Aaron Richardson - Democratic.
• John S. Leiber - Republican.
• Andrew Zuelke - Constitution.

U.S. Senator

• Mandela Barnes - Democratic.
• Ron Johnson - Republican.

U.S. Representative

• District 1
  • Ann Roe - Democratic.
  • Bryan Steil - Republican.
  • Charles E Barman - The Going Away Party.
• District 2
  • Mark Pocan - Democratic.
  • Erik Olsen - Republican.
  • Douglas Alexander - Independent.
• District 3
  • Brad Pfaff - Democratic.
  • Derrick Van Orden - Republican.
• District 4
  • Gwen Moore - Democratic.
  • Tim Rogers - Republican.
  • Robert R. Raymond - Independent.
• District 5
  • Mike Van Someren - Democratic.
  • Scott Fitzgerald - Republican.
• District 6
  • Glenn Grothman - Republican.
• District 7
  • Richard "Dick" Ausman - Democratic.
  • Tom Tiffany - Republican.
• District 8
  • Mike Gallagher - Republican.
  • Jacob J. VandenPlaas - Libertarian.
  • Paul David Boucher - Independent.

You can view a sample ballot for your location through myvote.wi.gov.

You can see lists of every candidate at the Wisconsin Election Commission website.