Written by: Fiona Hatch

The midterm elections are only a few weeks away. On the ballot this year in Wisconsin are the positions of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and both of Wisconsin's representation in the U.S Senate and House of Representatives, among others. However, elected officials are not the only ones on the ballot this year. There is a strong likelihood that Wisconsin residents will be asked their opinion on hot political issues such as marijuana legalization and abortion rights. Although these questions will not necessarily have a direct or immediate impact on state legislation on these subjects, public opinion referendums are often critical in a state official's decision-making process as it relates to policy creation and implementation. 

Put simply, this year's midterm election will be just as important as any Presidential election year, and the issues at the forefront of state and national politics today are drawing in one voter group in particular: university students. 

College is often the first opportunity for new adults to bring their voice to the national political discourse. UW-Madison's campus in particular boasts a politically literate and enthusiastic student body, who are known across the U.S for their advocacy movements and mass peaceful protests. Going to the polls is just another way in which Wisconsin undergraduates make their opinions known. 

For freshmen who have just turned 18, or individuals who are only now choosing to dip their toes into the world of politics, this may be your first time registering to vote. From registration to the act of dropping a completed ballot into the ballot box, the entire voting process can be intimidating for new voters. So let's take a step-by-step look at everything you need to know before going to the polls this November.

Wisconsin voter eligibility

To vote in Wisconsin, there are three general bars one must meet: 

1. Be a U.S citizen
2. Be 18 years of age or older by Election Day
3. Reside at your current address for 28 consecutive days prior to Election Day

And that's it! The actual eligibility requirements to vote in Wisconsin are straightforward enough. This being said, not all UW-Madison students will be eligible to vote in the state of Wisconsin. For international students attending UW without a U.S citizenship, college attendees who have not yet turned 18, or students who have not lived a full month in Madison prior to Election Day: there are other ways in which you can participate in the election process, which will be touched on later. 

If you are eligible to vote, however, there are a couple of steps you will need to take in order to receive your ballot come November. 

If you are eligible: everything you need to register

There are three broad options available to individuals registering to vote: completing the online form available on Wisconsin's MyVote site; printing out a voter registration form and mailing it to your local election office; or registering in person, either at your local municipal office or at your designated polling place on Election Day.

First, you will need to locate your municipal clerk. These clerks are primarily responsible for handling voter registration and absentee ballots in their local area. For those living in the Madison area, your municipal clerk is most likely Maribeth L Witzel-Behl. To be safe, head over to the MyVote site's ‘My Municipal Clerk' page, which will direct you to the name and address of your specific clerk and their office. 

Second, there are a couple of documents that you will need to gather. These are subject to change depending on your situation. 

1. A completed voter registration form. 

This can be filled out directly on the MyVote website, or you can find a physical copy at the municipal office OR at your local polling place on Election Day. If you choose to go through MyVote, note that you will need access to a printer. This form takes minutes to fill out, and asks a couple of basic questions to verify your identity and voter eligibility. 

2. A Wisconsin Driver's License or State ID, OR

3. Proof of residence document

If you are not from Wisconsin, or do not have a Wisconsin ID, you will need to instead provide a ‘proof of residency' document. There are a few options available to you:

• A copy of your lease
• A utility bill you have received
• A paycheck from a Wisconsin employer
• An Affidavit from your homeless shelter, if this is where you reside
• A Wisconsin hunting license
• Your Student ID, as well as its fee receipt
• A bank statement with a local Wisconsin bank

4. (Potentially) A photo ID

Although a valid photo ID is not mentioned on Wisconsin's official voter registration information page, it is required to bring to your local polling place in order to receive a ballot. To be on the safe side, it might be a good idea to bring a recent and unexpired government or university-issued photo ID. 

From there, your local municipal clerk or poll worker will help you finish the process. And boom – you're ready to receive your ballot!

Many get stuck at the registration process. Although it may seem daunting for a first-time voter, registering is not as difficult as it looks. Nor is it a one-way street. Whether it be the way you choose to register, to the document that works best for you to provide, there are opportunities to help make the process fit your lifestyle and resources. 

If you aren't eligible – how to participate

Not everyone attending university in Wisconsin will be eligible to vote in this year's elections. However, there are still many ways to get involved in political discourse and make your voice heard! Some potential ideas to join the political scene include:

1. Stay informed about local and national debates and legislation (bonus if you spread this information to others, whether that be writing an article, sending mass emails to your student class, or telling a friend or family member!)
2. Join (or start) a march or protest about issues that are important to you
3. Write to your local officials about pressing issues
4. Encourage others to vote

You've registered – now what?

Once you are registered to vote, there is still some important information to know before going to the polls. Election day can be intimidating for first-time voters, and it can often be more complicated than it initially appears. To get you prepared, let's walk through what it looks like to cast your ballot. 

The most important step is to determine and locate your own local polling place. If you've never voted in Wisconsin before, you can type your local address into the MyVote site to find where you should go. Don't worry – it should be close by! 

Wisconsin is one of the states that does require a photo ID to vote. A Wisconsin license or State ID is most common, but for UW students, your Wiscard will work just fine! You can find more options by looking up ‘how to vote in Wisconsin' – it should pop up right away.

Once your poll worker has verified your ID and has found you in the registration system (or has helped you finish the registration process), you will be given a fresh ballot, directed to a private writing space, and left to cast your vote.

Before heading to your polling place, do your research on the candidates up for election this year! These are the roles and questions that will be on your ballot, according to MyVote:

• Governor and Lieutenant Governor
• Wisconsin Attorney General
• Wisconsin Secretary of State
• Wisconsin State Treasurer
• Wisconsin's United States Senator
• Wisconsin's Representatives in the House (note: the representative on your ballot will depend on what district you are in – find out here)
• Your local county Sheriff
• Marijuana Referendum
• Abortion Referendum

Dates to Know

October 19: deadline to register to vote by mail or online

November 3: deadline to request an absentee ballot

November 8: ELECTION DAY! Deadline to return absentee ballots in person or by mail; deadline to register to vote in person. 

And there you have it! Congratulations to all the new voters who are now ready and registered for this November's midterm. Allow me to leave you with one final thought to think about. An election is won in one of two ways: the accumulation of hundreds of thousands of individual votes, or in the absence of hundreds of thousands of people who each believed their single ballot did not matter. When one person abstains from voting, the potential for an election to be won without any real majority becomes all that much higher. As we have seen in our nation's history, this is when the world becomes very scary. 

Politics affect every aspect of our lives, from our personal livelihoods to our national standing on the world stage. There are plenty of things in life that can be left to chance – do not let our elections become one of them.