Voting in the 2023 WI Supreme Court Election
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This is an urgent reminder to vote this year! Please make sure to request and return your ballot to help shape the future of the state of Wisconsin. On April 4, 2023, we have a chance to elect a liberal justice to Wisconsin's Supreme Court, determining the Court's balance of power and defining democracy in Wisconsin (and America) for years to come.
Ballots for the general election will not be sent until March 14 and must be returned by POSTAL MAIL. We urge you to send in a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB), or Backup Ballot, so your vote gets there in time to be counted. Click for detailed instructions.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please write to [email protected].
Please take immediate action:
- Send in your ballot request (FPCA) now
- Then immediately vote a write-in ballot (FWAB)
- To get a ballot for this statewide election, civilians living abroad must indicate an intent to return
On this page:
Ballot Request/Registration Information
Ballot Request: You must request your ballot EVERY calendar year – even if you are already registered.
- If you still need to request your ballot in 2023, please go to www.VoteFromAbroad.org (VFA). Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) form and send it from the VFA website or email it yourself.
- Please DO NOT use the in-state absentee voter registration! Using the FPCA ensures you can request to receive your ballot by email. (We highly recommend getting your ballot by email to avoid postal delays.)
Registration: Check here to see if you are registered.
- If you are not registered, the FPCA will double as your voter registration, but it must be sent back via POSTAL MAIL. Find your election office address here.
- You can also email your FPCA and check with your election official to see if they’ll issue your ballot while awaiting the arrival of your hard copy FPCA.
Can I vote in this year's state election?
Eligibility to vote in state elections is dependent on your Intent to Return to Wisconsin.
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Intent to Return: US citizens from Wisconsin who are living abroad must indicate on the form whether or not they “intend to return” to Wisconsin.
- You will be sent a FULL ballot with local, state and Federal elections if you select that you “Intend to return.” This return can be at any point in the future. Choosing "intend to return" is potentially one of several factors that may be used to determine whether would be subject to Wisconsin state income tax.
- If you intend to return, you are classified as a ‘temporary overseas voter’ and will be asked to provide proof of residence, such as a Wisconsin state ID card or DL.
- If you select that your “Return is uncertain” or that you have "Never Resided", then you will not receive a ballot for this year’s election, since you are only eligible to vote in Federal races. Be sure to request a ballot again in 2024 for the Presidential, Senate and Congressional races.
- If you are registering to vote you'll be asked to provide further documentation, such as the page from your US Passport. VFA will guide you through this process.
Candidate Information
There is no designation of party on the State Supreme Court ballot. The liberal candidate is:
If you'd like more information about the candidates or what's at stake in this election, please visit our Supreme Court Election Page.
Mail in your Backup Ballot NOW
Ballots for the April 4th General Election will start going out March 14th, but we encourage you to MAIL in a BACKUP BALLOT NOW! Find out how to do that below. You can still mail in your ballot after it arrives as well.
For detailed steps with illustrations, please go to the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot Instructions.
1. Go to: fvap.gov/fwab and select "Wisconsin" on the map
2. Fill in the form as directed with your personal information.
3. After providing your information, type in your candidate.
You'll need to write-in your choice for Wisconsin Supreme Court election:
- Scroll down to the “Write in Candidates” section and type in the office: "Supreme Court Justice"
- The liberal candidate endorsed by the Democratic Party is: Janet Protasiewicz
4. After you confirm your candidate selections an your information, DOWNLOAD and PRINT your "FWAB PDF PACKAGE."
- The PDF Package provides these materials for you to download and print out:
- Your Official Backup Ballot (FWAB) with your choice listed
- Your Voter Information sheet
- Wisconsin-specific instructions for signing and submitting your Backup Ballot (FWAB) materials
- Mailing instructions
Postal Mail Return Instructions
Although you can RECEIVE your ballot by email, it must be RETURNED by POSTAL MAIL and must arrive by 8pm Central Time on Election Day (see timeline and key dates below). Late return is the #1 reason ballots are rejected, so send yours back ASAP!
In countries with unreliable mail service, you can use the diplomatic pouch (be sure to check deadlines) or a private courier service (such as UPS or DHL) to send back ballots. NEW as of 2022: Ballots must be returned individually and cannot be sent in the same courier envelope, even by members of the same family.
See our Postal Mail Return Guidance for detailed, illustrated instructions.
Voting tips:
- Print out both your Official Ballot and Official Absentee Ballot Application/Certification.
- Please ensure your Clerk has initialed the ballot. If the ballot is not initialed, immediately contact your Clerk before voting!
- The witness to your ballot does NOT need to be a U.S. citizen! They simply need to be over 18.
- Ensure they sign the Official Absentee Ballot Application/Certification and write out their FULL address.
- Envelope Assembly:
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- Place your ballot inside a smaller privacy envelope without a window and seal the envelope.
- Securely tape or glue the Official Absentee Ballot Application/Certification to the outside of the Ballot envelope (see the guide for pictures).
- Place the Ballot envelope in a larger carrier envelope and address it to your local election office.
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- Affix the necessary postage to mail your ballot to the USA.
What's at stake in this election?
Balance of Power: The state legislature has been refusing to confirm Governor Evers’ appointments to government positions, leaving former incumbents in place despite the Governor’s power of appointment. In 2022, a state Supreme Court ruling paved the way for this abuse of the nominations process to continue.
Abortion: Since Roe v Wade was overturned, Governor Evers has tried to get the legislature to debate access to reproductive rights in Wisconsin. The legislature has refused, leaving the 1849 law which bans abortion in place. Attorney General Kaul has said that he will not enforce the 1849 law, setting up a dispute which is likely to head to the WI Supreme Court.
Voting Rights: Ballot access is under attack in Wisconsin and the State Supreme Court is the last line of defense for voting rights.
Gerrymandering: The Republican-controlled legislature adopted electoral maps that favor Republicans and reduce the number of Black-majority districts. Gov. Evers vetoed the maps, but the conservative-controlled Supreme Court ordered that Wisconsin will use the legislature’s map for the next 10 years.
Recusal: We must elect justices who are impartial and committed to fair and balanced judicial review and recuse themselves in the case of conflicts of interest.
State Supreme Court Election Timeline
➔ Primary Election Day: February 21
● Send Backup Ballot ASAP!
➔ General Election Ballots sent out starting March 14th!
● Check your Email or Spam folder
● Contact your Local Election Official if your ballot has not arrived
➔ General Registration Deadline: Postmarked by March 15
➔ General Ballot request Deadline: Received by March 30
➔ General Election Day: April 4
➔ Ballots must arrive by April 4, 2023, 8pm Central