Spring elections tend to have lower turnout than in November, missing the flash and pizazz of national elections. But many important local choices are made in the spring.

Ahead of the upcoming April 7 election, voters have three options for casting their ballots for county, town and school boards this spring.

The most common is in-person voting on election day, when voters simply head to their polling station and cast their vote. Registration can be completed at the polling station.

Using absentee voting is helpful for those who are homebound, or who go away for the winter but would still like to take part in their local elections. A voter can do this through myvote.wi.gov or by contacting their town/city clerk for assistance.

It’s recommended absentee voters request their absentee ballots several weeks before the election to ensure ballots are received in time to be counted. All absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on election day in order to be counted, according to vote411.org. They recommend mailing an absentee ballot at least one week in advance so it’s sure to arrive by Election Day. Voters also will need an adult to witness their ballot envelope for it to be valid.

Lastly, early in-person voting is another option. To do this, voters basically contact their town or city clerk and complete an absentee ballot in the clerk’s office. Dates and hours vary so voters should call ahead of time to assure the clerk is available when they come in to cast their in-person vote.

More information on absentee and early voting can be found online through the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) at elections.wi.gov/voters/voting-absentee or the League of Women Voters at my.lwv.org/wisconsin/voter-information/absentee-and-early-voting. Vote411 is another resource available to voters and can be found at vote411.org/wisconsin.

WEC launches information hub

WEC has launched the 2026 Election Information Hub, designed to bring news, data, key election dates, and voter resources from across the agency’s extensive website into a single, easy-to-navigate destination.

The new hub is geared towards improving public access to election information during the 2026 election cycle and beyond.

Visitors to the 2026 Election Information Hub will find:

— The Voter Information Center, where voters can register to vote, request an absentee ballot, see what’s on the ballot, and find their polling place;

— Election resources, where guests can find a list of candidates, nomination papers, and local referendums;

— Statistics and data, including updated reports on voter registration and voting statistics;

— FAQs, or evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions on election administration and misinformation;

— News and events, including WEC press releases and upcoming events;

— Election security, to see recent security reports and gain insights into how Wisconsin’s elections are secure; and

— Election results, manuals and informational videos.

The 2026 Election Information Hub will continue to be updated with new materials and resources as the election cycle progresses. For more information, visit elections.wi.gov/2026.