When Does Early Voting Start in Greendale?

While Election Day isn't until Nov. 6, voters in Greendale — and the rest of Wisconsin — can begin casting their ballots Monday.

In-person absentee voting, more commonly referred to as "early voting," begins Monday and continues through Friday, Nov. 2. Greendale residents can cast their ballot between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 2 at Village Hall, 6500 Northway.

The Clerks office has set up in the Village Hall Board Room with voting booths and tables for new voter registrations, name and address changes, as well as, absentee voting.  

Greendale has historically always had a high voter turn out in any election, said Greendale Clerk Treasurer Kathy Kasza. She also said absentee voting has always increased in the Presidential Elections over the other elections held.

Kasza said some of it is due to certain voters only eligible to vote in Federal elections, such as permanent overseas voters who are US Citizens. There are also more military voters, because there seems to be more accessibility for them to vote and they usually don’t have information regarding local elections. Kasza accredits higher absentee voting to the media providing increased awareness or voters just who vote only in the Presidential Election.

In the 2008 Presidential Election Greendale had over 2,500 absentee ballots returned. There are usually 300-500 absentee votes for most elections. 

"This election, like the 2008 election, I am anticipating the same number of absentee voters, if not more," Kasza said. 

The percentage of early voters increased from 16 percent in 2000 to 33 percent in 2008, according to CBS News, which said the number could go as high as 40 percent this year.

Residents can register in advance of the election at Village Hall until Nov. 2. Voters can also register at the polls on Election Day, though that may mean waiting in line.

Registered Greendale voters can download the absentee ballot application form from the State of WI-Government Accountability Board site:  https://myvote.WI.gov and bring it with them to save time filling out the form before they receive a ballot. All pre-completed forms will need to be signed in-person at Village Hall.  

To register to vote, residents should bring a document showing proof of residence — such as a utility bill or bank statement showing complete name and current address — as well as a Wisconsin driver's license or state-issued ID. If someone does not have an ID, they can provide the last four digits of their Social Security number.

State courts and lawmakers have gone back and forth on voter ID over the last several months, but for this election, an ID is not required to vote at the polls.

To vote in Greendale, people must be U.S. citizens, 18 years old on or before Election Day, and reside in Greedale for at least 28 days prior to Election Day.

Residents may register to vote, view voter information or change informationthrough the Government Accountability Board website.

For more information on voting in Greendale and a rundown of what's on the ballot, check out Patch's Greendale Election Guide.