ELECTIONS

WHO IS QUALIFIED TO VOTE

The requirements to vote are:

• You must be a U. S. citizen
• You must be at least 18 years old on election day
• You must have resided in your election district at least 10 days
• You must not have lost your right to vote

HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE

Every U.S. citizen, age 18 or older who has resided in an election district for 10 days before any election where the citizen desires to vote, who has not been convicted of a felony, is an eligible elector.

As of January 1, 2003, the federal "Help America Vote Act of 2002", requires any person registering to vote to:

1. Supply their Wisconsin driver's license number or, if you do not possess a driver's license, the last 4 digits of their Social Security Number, OR indicate that the applicant has neither a driver's license nor a Social Security number. 
2. Answer the following questions:

• Are you a citizen of the United States of America?
• Will you be 18 years of age on or before the next election day?

THE REGISTRATION CANNOT BE PROCESSED UNTIL THE ELECTOR ANSWERS THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.

REGISTRATION OPTIONS

Anyone wishing to vote in the Town of Grand Chute has three options to register:

• IN PERSON
• BY MAIL, PRIOR TO 20 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION 
• AT THE POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY

1. IN PERSON:  Register in the Town Clerk's office any weekday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and up to 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.  See below for a list of items that may be used as acceptable proof of residence.
2. BY MAIL:  Use the Voter Registration Application.  Complete the form and mail it to the Grand Chute Town Clerk's Office up to 5:00 p.m. on the 20th day before the election.   PLEASE NOTE:  As of January 1, 2003, the federal "Help America Vote Act of 2002" requires any person registering to vote for the first time and submitting a registration application by mail to provide a copy of acceptable proof of residence.  Forms of identification which constitute acceptable proof of residence are a current and valid photo identification, OR, one of the following:  a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, pay check, or government document that shows the name and address of the voter.  The copy of the form of identification must be included when submitting the registration application. 
3. AT THE POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY:  If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must bring proof that you have lived at your present location for 10 days preceding the election.  For purposes of voter registration, a form of identification constitutes acceptable proof of residence if it includes:

A current and complete name, including both the given and family name;

and

A current and complete residential address, including a numbered street address if any, and the name of the municipality.

Forms of identification which constitute acceptable proof of 
residence (see numbers 2 and 3 above), when they contain the information specified above, include the following:

• A Wisconsin motor vehicle operator's license
• A Wisconsin identification card
• Any other official identification card or license issued by a Wisconsin governmental body or unit or by an employer in the normal course of business, but not including a business card
• Personal checking account or bank statement
• A gas, electric or telephone service statement for the period commencing not earlier than 90 days before election day
• A real estate tax bill or receipt for the current year
• A residential lease which is effective for a period that includes election day
• A university, college or technical institute fee card
• A university, college or technical institute identification card
• An airplane pilot's license

If you cannot supply acceptable proof of residence, your registration form can be substantiated and signed by one other elector who resides in your municipality, corroborating your residency information.  The corroborator must then provide acceptable proof of residence. 
  
 If you have any further questions or concern, please contact:

 Office of the Town Clerk 
 1900 Grand Chute Blvd. 
 Grand Chute, WI  54913-9613
 (920) 832-1573

HOW CAN I CHANGE MY REGISTRATION IF I'M ALREADY REGISTERED TO VOTE

Name and address changes require re-registration.  We recommend making this change in person at the Clerk's office to preserve your voting history.  Waiting to change your records until the next time you vote will require re-registration.

WHAT IF I MOVE TO A NEW ADDRESS LESS THAN 10 DAYS BEFORE AN ELECTION

Since you are not eligible to register using the new address (must live there 10 days), state law allows you to vote at your previous polling place in Grand Chute or previous municipality.  For example, if your last address was in Menasha and you moved to the Town of Grand Chute less than 10 days before an election, you would vote at your previous polling place.  When you have lived at your new Town of Grand Chute address for 10 days, you will then be eligible to register in Grand Chute.

CAN I REGISTER AT MY POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY

Yes.  Persons who register or change their address at the polls on election day must present one form of acceptable proof of residence or have their statements substantiated and signed by one other elector from the same municipality who must accompany them to the polls.  If this witness is not a registered voter, he/she must also present proof of residence. 

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

Pre-registered – Upon entering the polling location an Election Inspector will ask your name and address.  Your name will be located on the list of registered voters in your ward and you will receive a voting number slip.  Take the slip to another Election Inspector and he/she will escort you to a voting machine.

Not registered – You must first stop at the voter registration table and provide acceptable proof of residence in that district.  You will be provided a Voter Registration Application to complete.

If you need assistance, inform an Election Inspector at the time of check-in.  You may have help in casting your vote, if required, from an Election Inspector or from another person, however, that individual may not be the elector's employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization that represents the voter.

VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT

The privilege of "absentee voting" must be carefully regulated to prevent the potential for fraud.  Meeting all the requirements takes time.  To avoid any delays or misunderstanding, contact the Clerk's office as soon as possible. 

Registered voters who are unable or unwilling to go to their polling place on election day may vote by absentee ballot.  Ballots are available for mailing or in-person voting 21 days before an election (30 days before the fall elections).

In Person:  You may fill out the application request and mark an absentee ballot in person at the Town Clerk's office.  The deadline is 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election.

By Mail:  To obtain an absentee ballot you must make a request in writing.  The written request must include your voting address within the Town of Grand Chute, the address where the absentee ballot should be sent and your signature.  You may print out the Application for Absentee Ballot or write a letter.

The deadline for making application to vote absentee by mail is 5:00 p.m. on the Friday preceding the election.

INDEFINITELY CONFINED – If you are indefinitely confined because of age (at least 70 years old), illness, infirmity, or disability you may submit a written and signed request stating you are confined and wish to receive a ballot for every election until such time as you fail to return a ballot.  Your voted ballot must be returned to the Clerk's office by election day in order for your vote to be counted. 

All voted ballots must be returned to the Clerk's office so they can be delivered to the proper polling location before the polls close on Election Day.  Any ballot received after the polls close will not be counted.