MADISON, Wis. – Next week the Wisconsin Elections Commission is mailing postcards to approximately 178,500 state residents who appear to be eligible to vote but are not currently registered.
The official postcards, being mailed around July 8, tell voters how to register to vote online at MyVote.wi.gov and give them deadlines and other information about ways to register for upcoming elections. The postcards also include a toll-free number which routes them to a WEC call center. The mailer includes information on how to register to vote but does not include a registration form.
The postcards are required before each general election, as part of Wisconsin’s membership agreement with the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), which helps states maintain and improve the accuracy of information in the state’s voter database and increase access to voter registration for all eligible citizens.
Wisconsin law requires the state to be an ERIC member and to follow the membership agreement.
“Wisconsinites will likely receive numerous election-related mailings this summer that may appear official but in reality, are not,” said WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe. “Wisconsin voters, however, can rely upon the information provided in these official postcards about how eligible citizens can register to vote.”
The “Official Election Mail Seal” included on the postcards makes clear the mailing comes from an official government source.
Wisconsin sent similar postcard mailings to 1.28 million eligible but unregistered residents in 2016, 384,000 in 2018, and 198,600 in 2020.
ERIC helps the WEC develop the mailing lists of eligible but unregistered residents.
ERIC starts with a list of people who have been issued a driver license or a state ID card by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation since the previous mailing. ERIC compares that list to Wisconsin’s statewide voter registration system to find eligible but unregistered residents.
Names of people who are ineligible to vote, such as those serving a felony sentence, are removed from the mailing list. Also taken off the mailing list are people who recently moved without providing the USPS with a forwarding address.
Some registered voters may inadvertently receive postcards. This can happen when a registered voter’s record does not match the same person’s DOT data. Registered voters who may receive postcards should not worry that their registration is in jeopardy. These voters may want to visit the MyVote website, call the toll-free number or contact their municipal clerk to check that their information is accurate, and to correct any data errors.
People who receive the postcard may choose to register by mail, at their clerk’s office, or at their polling place on Election Day rather than registering online. The postcard can be used as proof of residence if the name and address on the postcard match the information on the registration form.
These mailings will not result in any voters being deactivated.
