GAB: Over 545,000 voters in Wisconsin requested absentee ballots

MADISON – The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board has announced more than 545,000 voters requested absentee ballots – including more than 392,000 in clerks’ offices – for the November 6th General Election.

As of Monday morning, November 5th, at least 545,060 voters had requested absentee ballots, according to Wisconsin’s local election officials who track them using the Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS).

There were 392,912 ballots requested in clerks’ offices, and 152,148 ballots requested by mail and other methods.

The absentee ballot numbers for Wisconsin are not complete because only military and permanent overseas absentee ballots are required to be tracked in SVRS.  However, approximately 350 municipalities, including most major cities, track some or all absentee ballots in addition to military and overseas ballots in SVRS. 

Comparable pre-election numbers from four years ago are not available.

In 2008, 21% (633,610) of the 2.99 million ballots cast were absentee ballots. GAB Director Kevin Kennedy said it is still too early to say whether absentee voting will exceed 2008 numbers.

In-person absentee voting in the clerk’s office ended on Friday, November 2nd. Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and received in the municipal clerk’s office by 4 p.m. the Friday after the election in order to be counted.

CLICK HERE for additional Election Day information and resources via the GAB.