Voter’s Guide Fall 2018
This is an archived copy of our Fall 2018 Voter’s Guide. You can find more up-to-date voter info at our current Voter’s Guide.
The 2018 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 6
The Political Education Committee has not endorsed any candidates in the November .
However, you can still view candidates endorsed by AFL-CIO here.
Not going to be in Madison? No problem! Request an absentee ballot from the Madison City Clerk’s Office by following these simple directions .
Upcoming elections
November 6, 2018 – Governor, Attorney General, State Legislature, Congress
February 19, 2019 – Spring Primary
April 6, 2019 – Mayor, Alderperson, School Board
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I vote? What’s going to be on my specific ballot?
You can find the answer to all of these questions at My Vote WI. Simply input your legal name and current address and the system will tell you if you’re registered to vote at your current address and where your voting location will be set up on election day. If the next election is within ~20 days you can even view a sample ballot, allowing you to prepare for election day.
What’s the deal with Wisconsin’s Voter ID law?
The 2011 Wisconsin Act 23 is a strict voter photo identification law that requires all voters to present a photo ID every time they vote. “Proof of identity” is not the same as the “proof of residence” required when you initially register to vote. While what does and does not qualify as a valid photo ID can seem arbitrary and confusing to a first-time voter, there are resources that can help: the City Clerk’s Office offers a list of valid photo IDs that will get you your ballot!
My Wiscard has my name and photo on it. Does it count as a valid photo voter ID?
No. The Wiscard does not meet a number of requirements defined under state statute. However, the university does provide a free voter ID card to any student with a Wiscard. Simply stop by the Wiscard Office in Union South, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. This is among the easiest voter IDs to obtain for those grads lacking a Wisconsin-issued ID or a current passport.
Does my State of Illinois drivers license qualify as a valid photo voter ID?
Unfortunately not. Only licenses and state IDs issued by the State of Wisconsin are considered valid under state statute.
When and where can I register?
“Mail-in” registration closes 20 days before an election to ensure the City Clerk’s Office has enough time to get every registered resident on the books. But don’t worry if you miss this deadline! The State of Wisconsin allows Same Day Registration, meaning any eligible voter can register at your polling place the day of an election. Simply bring valid proof of residence to your polling place and trained election officials will make sure to get you onto the books. The City Clerk’s Office provides an exhaustive list of valid proofs of residence on their website.
If you’d prefer to register ahead of time, then at least 20 days in advance of the next election you can register online at My Vote WI. You can also seek out assistance from a trained City of Madison registration ambassador. Many TAA stewards and members of the Political Education Committee have received this training!
Do I need to re-register every time I move, even if it’s only to a new unit down the hall in the same apartment building?
Yes.
What is the TAA endorsement process?
The TAA has a rich history of endorsing candidates in local elections as well as referenda. Early during the election period, members of PEC will reach out to candidates of interest in order to learn where they stand on the issues relevant to both graduate workers and our community. The responses received are used by the committee to make informed recommendations to the general membership for formal endorsement by the union as a whole. Once they’ve received a TAA endorsement, candidates enjoy publicity and a push by PEC to get out the vote.
Past Endorsements and Candidate Questionnaires
An archive of past endorsements is provided here. Please be aware that these pages are no longer being maintained, and that external links may lead to moved or deleted websites.
2018 elections: Spring Primary | Spring Election
Spring 2017 Election
Spring 2016 Election and Presidential Preference Vote