The statewide COVID-19 website is a one stop shop that consolidates information from state agencies, and provides up-to-date information and guidance regarding COVID-19.
If you're not busy, please make a call, send a card, or write a letter to someone you know who lives alone of may need assistance.
Please, let them and your family know that you are thinking of them, and that we are here for each other.
Bless each of you during this difficult time of uncertainty and suffering. Take good care!
Absentee Ballots are being requested at never-before-seen rates in Wisconsin, and this reflects the civic duty that Wisconsinites share. I am extremely proud to see this happening during such uncertain times.
What makes me less proud is the response of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to Governor Evers' call for the Legislature to make it possible to conduct this election all by mail. They do not seem to agree that these unprecedented circumstances warrant temporary changes in our laws to accommodate our fellow citizens. It is my sincere belief that the April 7th election should be postponed in order to ensure the safety of our clerks and volunteers and that every ballot is counted! The city of Milwaukee Election Commission estimates they may be short approximately 1,000 poll workers, who need to make the call to stay home for their health and the health of others on Election Day. Further changes are also needed, such as allowing ballots that are postmarked by election day to be counted, rather than just the ones that are received by election day. A vote should not be invalidated due to postal delays which are bound to follow a surge in absentee ballots. See the next section for more information about absentee voting.
Step-by-step instructions for making sure you can vote on April 7th
Step 1: Make sure you have an ID for voting purposes
Bringit.wi.gov is the state's website for helping people make sure that they have an ID that will work when they go to cast their ballot. For most Wisconsinites, their driver's license will satisfy this requirement. Bring your ID with you for every step of the following process!
Step 2: Get registered
You can check your registration through MyVote.wi.gov. Online and postal registration has ended for the upcoming election, so if you are not already registered, you will need to do so in person at your municipal clerk, if necessary you will still be able to do this at the polls on Election Day, but it is best to get it done in advance.
Contact info for all municipal clerks across the state can be found in the Directory of Wisconsin Clerks from the Wisconsin Elections Commission website, or through myvote.wi.gov.
Here are the websites and phone numbers for the clerks from the 3rd Senate District. Early voting has been canceled or changed to appointment-only availability due to staffing and safety concerns in several municipalities. Check with your municipal clerk to see if this option is still available!
Step 3: Request an Absentee Ballot before 5pm on April 2nd, or make a plan to participate safely on Election Day
Absentee Ballots can still be requested through MyVote.wi.gov as well as through your municipal clerk.April 2nd at 5pm is the deadline for requesting a mail-in absentee ballot, and they must be returned to the municipal clerk by 8pm on Election Day. If MyVote is not working for you for any reason, call your municipal clerk to discuss your options for voting in the upcoming election. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has issued special guidance for this Absentee voting for this year. For more information you can reference their standard instructions for voting absentee.
If you live within the City of Milwaukee, you can print this form and mail, fax, or deliver it to the City of Milwaukee Elections Commission. Their address and contact information are at the top of the form if you have any questions about how to follow the instructions and get your Absentee Ballot sent to you.
If you live in the City of Greenfield, Wauwatosa, West Allis, or West Milwaukee, or any part of Wisconsin, you can use the Wisconsin Application for Absentee Ballot and mail, fax, or deliver it to your respective municipal clerk.
In order to accomplish this, you must be registered to vote, and submit a copy or photo of an acceptable photo ID for voting to your municipal clerk. This can be achieved by taking a picture of your ID with your phone and emailing it to the municipal clerk. Just be sure to include a statement in the email that explains why you are sending the photo to them. If you are unsure about any steps in this process, give them a call!
Step 4: Return your Absentee Ballot or go to the polls on Election Day
Absentee Ballots must be received by your municipal clerk by 8pm on Election Day. The USPS recommends that in order to guarantee your ballot is received and counted, it must be in the mail one weekin advance--that's today, 03/31/20!
If you have not had a chance to get your ballot in the mail yet, don't worry, there are more options to make sure that it gets to your clerk.
If you are unsure that your ballot will make it through the mail before election day, seal your ballot in the envelop and follow all of the normal instructions for signing and witnessing as if you were going to mail it, and then deliver it to your municipal clerk yourself or entrust the sealed and witnessed envelop to someone whom you trust to do this for you.
Ballots are sent from your municipal clerk's office to your normal polling location on Election Day to be counted. If you have not had a chance to get your ballot in the mail and it is Election Day, take your sealed and witnessed envelop to your clerk or to your polling location. Clerks can serve as witnesses for the purpose of completing the absentee voting process, but election staff at polling locations cannot!
If you are taking your ballot to your polling location, make sure that it is witnessed in advance! Polling locations may be different for this election due to the reduced number of poll worker volunteers. Because of this, it is important that you call your municipal clerk so that you can get up-to-date information about your polling location and options for making sure that your ballot is counted! (See above for clerk contact info)
Otherwise, continue to check for polling location info through Myvote.wi.gov or by contacting your municipal clerk directly in order to participate at the polls on Election Day. Thank you for voting!
BadgerCare Plus is a coverage program for low-income Wisconsin residents, and children regardless of income.
Wisconsin Medicaid pays for medical services for residents of Wisconsin who are poor, aged, blind, or disabled.
SeniorCare provides prescription drug assistance for residents who are 65 or older.
COBRA can allow you to keep your health insurance from your previous employer
The marketplace on Healthcare.gov has options for people who have experienced life changes such as losing their employment.
ABC for Health or Advocacy & Benefits Counseling for Health, Inc. is a Wisconsin-based, nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to ensuring health care access. They also have an online resource library for BadgerCare!
Resources for Seniors
Milwaukee County's Department on Aging is providing updates on their website. They can be reached for questions related to helping seniors overcome the challenges of COVID-19 at 414-289-6874 please leave a voicemail!
Through the Department on Aging you can learn more about their partner organizations who are providing the following:
Able Access Transportation is helping to deliver carry-out meals to older adults.
Eras Senior Network is focusing their volunteer services on delivering groceries and providing rides to essential healthcare appointments.
Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin has continued delivering Meals on Wheels to homebound older adults without interruption and is monitoring the needs of participants.
Thousands of wellness calls are being made to older adults by Serving Older Adults of Southeast Wisconsin, Milwaukee Christian Center, United Community Center, Eras Senior Network and Department on Aging staff.
Aging Resource Center staff have modified their procedures to continue doing client “visits” and Long Term Care Functional Screenings remotely.
Governor Evers calls out the Legislature for stalling on COVID-19 actions
Saying "We don't have weeks" to act, the Governor has put several proposals in front of the Republican controlled Legislature that would help Wisconsin respond more effectively to the Coronavirus pandemic.
I have consistently demanded action from Legislative leadership to face this crisis. Most recently, in a message to Senate President Roth I emphasized the need to convene the State Senate quickly in order to address issues with the April 7th election, and help our healthcare workers, schools, the unemployed, and all Wisconsinites who are adversely affected by the current situation. It is far past time that the Senate used its multifaceted powers and took action!
Gov. Evers Suspends Rules to Help Keep Youth Safe and Vital Services Functioning
Gov. Tony Evers today issued Emergency Order #18, suspending several administrative rules for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) to help reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 while maintaining critical services the agency provides. The order can be found here.
Beware of COVID-19 Scams
Attorney General Josh Kaul advises Wisconsinites to be on the lookout for scams. Public health emergencies create an opportunity unethical actors to sell fake cures and remedies or send fake updates designed to steal personal information. More from the Attorney General
Marketing Fraud Prevention Tips from the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
If you receive a suspicious email, text, or social media post, ask yourself:
Have I ever done business with this person or company? If yes, still be cautious before clicking any links. If no, do not click any links and delete the message.
Are there any attachments? If yes, do not click on them. If you believe the email or text and attachment are legitimate, contact the sender first to verify the contents and security of the attachment.
Does the message request any personal information (such as Social Security number, Medicare card number, date of birth, credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or passwords)? If so, do not reply and delete the message.
Does the message contain grammatical errors and awkward sentences? If so, do not reply. These can be a red flag that the message is not from a professional, reputable, or legitimate business.
If you still think the message may be from a legitimate company that you have done business with (such as your bank) or a government agency, look up a telephone number for that business or agency. Call the business or agency directly and ask them if they sent you the message.
