Statewide Youth Voter Registration
The Wisconsin Civic Learning Coalition is partnering with The Civic Health of Wisconsin Initiative and the League of Women Voters to support school-based voter registration across Wisconsin.
Take the High School Voter Registration Pledge
Take the pledge to commit to providing information and support for students registering and voting in their first election when they turn 18. Individual teachers, schools, and districts are all welcome to take the pledge! Join the movement and help Wisconsin support our young voters in one of their first acts of civic engagement.
Spotlight On Milwaukee Public Schools
The MPS School Board recently passed a resolution establishing a district wide voter registration program to be enacted in each of the high schools in the district. Learn more about their plans here.
Contact us at wicivics@gmail.com to share the youth voter registration plans in your district.
Voter Registration Toolkit
- What’s on the ballot? Where do I vote? www.myvote.wi.gov
- Voter Registration flier (PDF with QR code)
- Acceptable government issued photo ID or other approved ID needed to vote.
- High School Poll Worker information.
Resources for Teaching about Elections
2023 Election Information
Spring Election: April 4, 2023
What’s on the ballot? City, county, and school board elections, as well as the statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Election Resources
- 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court Non-partisan Voters Guide
- Supreme Court Candidate Debate: March 21st, hosted by the State Bar of Wisconsin
Campaign Websites
State Democracy Research Initiative
University of Wisconsin Law School
- The “Biggest” Election of 2023: What to Know about the Upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court Election
- Maps, Elections, and Governmental Power: A review of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s 2021-22 Term & preview of 2022-23
- Redistricting Redux? How the 2023 Wisconsin Supreme Court election is reviving questions about the state’s gerrymandered maps
Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources
- Wisconsin Elections Commission: Elections 101 videos and lesson plans
- Civics Renewal Network: Teaching about Voting and Elections
- Deliberation on Lowering the Voting Age (deliberation instructions, graphic organizer)
- NEA resources for teaching about elections and democracy
- More resources for teaching about elections
- 2022 UW Madison Teaching About the Elections Conference website
- League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Impartial Justice resources on the state judicial system.
Governor's Proposal on Voter Registration in High School - released 2/15/23
Voter registration in high schools
Prior to 2011 Wisconsin Act 240, state law required that all public high schools be used for voter registration for enrolled students and members of the high school staff. Prior law also authorized voter registration to take place at a private high school or a tribal school that operates high school grades if requested by the principal. The bill reinstates those provisions. Under the bill, the municipal clerk must notify the school board of each school district in which the municipality is located that high schools will be used for voter registration. The school board and the clerk then appoint at least one qualified voter at each high school to be a special school registration deputy. The bill allows students and staff to register at the school on any day that classes are regularly held. The deputies promptly forward the registration forms to the clerk and the clerk adds qualified voters to the registration list. The clerk may reject a registration form, but the clerk must notify the registrant and inform the registrant of the reason for being rejected. Under the bill, a form completed by an individual who will be 18 years of age before the next election and who is otherwise qualified to vote must be filed in such a way so that the individual is automatically registered to vote when the individual is 18. Finally, the bill allows a principal of a private high school or tribal school that operates high school grades to request that the municipal clerk appoint a qualified voter at the school to be a special school registration deputy. Under the bill, the clerk must appoint a special school registration deputy if the clerk determines that the private high school or tribal school has a substantial number of students residing in the municipality.”
The Wisconsin Civic Learning Coalition is a project of the Legislative Semester, a 501(c)3 organization.