Voters encouraged to register online for fall election
The 2020 Fall General Election is Nov. 3, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All residents of the Village of East Troy vote at the Village Municipal Building, 2015 Energy Dr. (North entrance).
Residents must be registered to vote, and village officials encourage voters to do this prior to Election Day. There are several ways to register. They include:
The easiest way is online at www.myvote.wi.gov, by selecting the “Register to Vote” tab before Oct. 14. This will tell voters if they are already registered, allow them to update their address and request an Absentee Ballot if desired.
Voters may also complete a paper registration form (may be picked up at the Clerk’s Office at Village Hall or printed at the Wisconsin Election Commission (elections.wi.gov/forms/el-131-fillable).
Once completed, the form, along with proof of residency (see the back of the form for acceptable documents), may be mailed to the Clerk’s Office, 2015 Energy Dr., East Troy, WI 53120, dropped off in-person or placed in the drop box.
Residents of the Town of East Troy and Town of Troy may also register online www.myvote.wi.gov, or contact their clerk’s office for more information.
When voting by absentee ballot the return envelope, or certificate envelope, requires the voter to sign and date in the highlighted area and a witness to sign and provide their full address in the highlighted area. Ballots may be returned via the United States Postal Service (absentee ballots are provide with postage paid return envelopes), dropped off at Village Hall or at one of the two outside drop boxes (silver, payment drop boxes) – one drive-up box in the parking lot and one walk-up box, next to the front door, Village Clerk Lorri Alexander said.
After Oct. 14
Registration is allowed in-person at the clerk’s office after Oct. 14. The voter registration form and your proof of residency should be brought to the clerk’s office (2015 Energy Dr.) and will be accepted until 5 pm on Friday, October 30.
Note: After Oct. 14 registration may still be processed through www.myvote.wi.gov however voters will need to bring their Proof of Residency to the Clerk’s office in person to finalize their registration.
Those already registered may request an absentee ballot through the www.myvote.wi.gov website or complete the request form (elections.wi.gov/forms/EL-121-english) or send the village a written request, include name, address, the election requesting a ballot for, the mailing address and Photo ID (no selfies). The deadline to request an absentee ballot be mailed to voters for the Nov. 3 election is Oct. 29.
In-person absentee voting will be available in the clerk’s office from Oct. 20 through 30.
Village Hall office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, Oct. 26 and 28, and until 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Election Day
Election Day registration is allowable in Wisconsin however, voters should allow for additional time and come prepared to complete the registration form and have the required proof of residency showing they have lived in the municipality for 28 consecutive days prior to the election.
“We want voters to understand that on Election Day we expect extended wait times, possible wait lines, which may include waiting outside our building due to social distance requirements and a longer than normal walk due to the traffic patterns we need to have to accommodate social distancing. The same is expected for in-person absentee voting,” Alexander said.
Alexander encourages residents to prepare ahead of time by making sure their registration is current and accurate.
“Registration is required if you are a new resident in the Village of East Troy, if you have changed your name or if you have changed your address within the village – even if you have only changed apartments,” Alexander stated in a press release. “By preparing ahead of the election you will save time.”
For those who haven’t voted in a while or who are unsure of their registration status, visit www.myvote.wi.gov and select “My Voter Info” to determine registration status.
“There are a number of political and political-action groups that are mailing voter registration forms and/or absentee ballot request forms and many of these appear to have been sent from the Village of East Troy,” Alexander said.
Residents may always check their registration status at www.myvote.wi.gov or by calling the clerk’s office at 262-642-6255.
The State of Wisconsin Election Commission launched a mailing Sept. 1 to all registered Wisconsin Voters without a current request for an absentee ballot on file with information on how to vote and included an absentee ballot application form.
“All in all, it is a confusing time for voters trying to be sure they are prepared to participate in the November election and we understand,” Alexander said.
For more information, call the Village of East Troy Clerk’s Office at 262-642-6255.
