Absentee ballots for spring primary are in the mail

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – The Madison clerk’s office announced Tuesday that absentee ballots for the spring primary election on February 20th are in the mail. While most Madison residents will not have a primary election this February, those who do should get their absentee ballots back to the city as soon as possible.

The city sent out 533 absentee ballots to registered voters for the primary election. This spring, less than one third of county board seats will see contested elections, and of those only two have more than two candidates running, needing a primary election. Those seats are in District 13, in downtown Madison, and District 36, on the far-east of Madison and in Cottage Grove. Additionally, voters within the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District will also have a primary election on February 20th. 

Absentee ballots have a new look this year, with colorful ink and highlighted sections that need to be filled out in order for the ballot to be counted. In order for an absentee ballot to count, the envelope must be sealed, signed by both the voter and the voter’s witness, and filled out with both the voter’s and witness’ address. 

“Even though it’s still the middle of winter, with the mailing of absentee ballots for spring elections, the 2024 voting season has officially begun,” Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement. “This year will have a number of extremely consequential elections, and I urge all Madisonians to make sure that they are registered and prepared to vote. Voting by mail is an easy, convenient and safe way for many voters to make their voice heard during elections; I encourage interested voters to request their absentee ballots now if they have not yet done so.”

Absentee ballots need to be returned back to the clerk’s office early enough for them to be delivered to and counted at polling places on election day. The city will begin in-person absentee voting on Tuesday, February 6th. You can see what will be available on your ballot at MyVote.wi.gov.