Election day is quickly approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 8, and Wisconsin’s young voters have been labeled a crucial demographic in this year’s midterm election. Here’s what you need to know about how to vote as a UW-Milwaukee student, what’s on the ballot and the significance of this election.
The top races are for Wisconsin’s governor and for Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator. Democrat incumbent Tony Evers will face Republican challenger Tim Michels in the governor’s race and Republican incumbent Ron Johnson will face Democrat challenger Mandela Barnes in the senate race.
Polling from Marquette University Law School released Wednesday shows that Evers and Michels are tied at 48% each, and Johnson and Barnes are only two points apart, making both races extremely competitive.
Furthermore, Wisconsin’s young vote could be decisive in this election. The Tufts Institute ranked Wisconsin’s governor’s race as no. 1 for youth electoral significance and ranked the senate race as no. 5.
The UWM Post talked to students to see which issues they think are most important this election season. Students shared concerns about climate change, the cost of education and abortion rights.
“Reproductive rights are an extremely important issue that I hope will be addressed in the upcoming election,” said Sam Bricco, a public health major.
Early voting in Milwaukee started on Oct. 25 and will run until Saturday, Nov. 5. Turnout at UWM has been good so far, according to polling officials.
How to vote
To begin the voting process, you will need to register to vote. You can register online or check to see if you are already registered here. Wisconsin also offers same-day registration at polling sites, meaning if you arrive unregistered with proof of residence, you can still cast a ballot.
Each address is assigned a polling place, so if you are living on campus but are already registered under an address from your hometown, you will need to either vote absentee or change your registered address to the address you currently reside at.
Absentee ballots must arrive by election day in order to be counted. The Wisconsin Elections Commission says that the practical deadline to mail an absentee ballot has passed, but ballots can still be dropped off at your assigned polling place by 8 p.m. on election day.
If you have recently moved or legally changed your name, you will need to update your address or name. After you do this, you will need to bring your signed registration form to your polling site, and proof of residence (driver’s license, lease, paycheck, etc.) on Nov. 8 or you can deliver it yourself or by mail to your municipal clerk.
After you have registered, finding where your polling site is will be the next step. These are the polling places for students living on campus:
Sandburg: UWM Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53211—The Wisconsin room. Directions
Polling hours are Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, from 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Cambridge Commons: Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Place, Milwaukee, WI 53211.
Polling hours are Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, from 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Riverview: Gordon Park Pavilion, 2828 N. Humboldt Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53212.
Polling hours are Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, from 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Kenilworth: Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Polling hours are Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, from 7:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Purin: Plymouth Church, 2717 E. Hampshire Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211.
Polling hours are Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, from 7:00 a.m- 8:00 p.m.
For students living off campus, you can type in your address here to find out where your polling place is.
What’s on the ballot
The 2022 midterm will have races for federal, state and local offices, as well as two county-wide referendums. To view what’s on your ballot specifically, click here.
Federal races: The top federal race is for Wisconsin’s senator to the U.S. Senate. After pledging in 2016 that he would not run for a third term, Sen. Ron Johnson, born in Oshkosh, said he would be running for the office again in 2022. Johnson will face Mandela Barnes, born and raised in Milwaukee, who currently serves as the first African American lieutenant governor.
Representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives are also up for election.
State races: The highest state office on the ballot is for governor. Gov. Tony Evers, born in Plymouth, will face Tim Michels, owner of the state’s largest construction company, Michels Corporation.
Other state races include attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, state assemblymembers and state senators.
County races and referendums: Milwaukee County sheriff and Milwaukee County circuit court clerk are also up for election, however, both races are uncontested.
Also on the ballot are two county-wide referendum questions regarding the recreational use of marijuana and the prohibition of semi-automatic firearms. These referendums are solely to gauge public opinion, they will not directly change any laws or ordinances.