Let me begin by reiterating what I said last week: If you are a U.S. citizen, if you have lived in the state of Wisconsin for at least 10 days, and if you are not a convicted felon still on probation, you are eligible to vote in Wisconsin. Period.
So that you have no confusion whatsoever regarding your voting rights, I have included a modified version of the Election Protection Coalition's Wisconsin Voters Bill of Rights. You can find the official document at http://www.electionprotection2004.com/bor/WI_BOR.pdf. I have added several details specifically regarding UW-Madison:
1. On Election Day in Madison, if you are in line between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., you have the right to vote (even if you get in line right at 8 p.m.).
2. If your name is on the list of registered voters (especially in the dorms), you have the right to vote without providing proof of your identity or residence.
3. If you have not registered to vote, or if you did register but your name is not on the registration list, you have the right to vote at that polling place if you are at the correct location after signing a certification form and providing written proof of your residence or having another voter confirm your residence.
4. First-time voters have the right to vote by provisional ballot if they do not have photo identification and have not previously provided photo identification to the elections officials.
5. If you are physically disabled, you have the right to receive help when voting from anyone except your employer or an agent of your employer, or an officer or agent of your union. Also, if you are handicapped, you have the right to an accessible polling place, and you can request to be relocated to an accessible polling place if yours is not accessible.
6. You have the right to request a paper ballot if you cannot use the voting machine due to your disability.
7. If you have moved to Wisconsin within 10 days of the presidential election and are otherwise qualified to vote, you have the right to vote for president and vice-president even if you were not registered in the state from which you moved.
8. If you have moved within your municipality, you have the right to vote at your old or new polling place.
9. If you have moved between wards or municipalities after the registration deadline but at least 10 days before the election, you have the right to vote in your new ward or municipality.
10. If you moved within 10 days of the election, you cannot vote in your new ward or municipality, but you have the right to vote in your old ward or municipality.
11. If you make a mistake or \spoil"" your ballot, you have the right to request a replacement ballot from election officials. You may receive up to three replacement ballots.
12. If you have been convicted of a felony, treason or bribery, you have the right to vote after completing your sentence, including any period of probation or parole and registering.
13. You have the right to take time off from work to vote, but no more than three successive hours, as long as you give notice before Election Day. Your employer may set the time of day.
14. You have the right to bring your minor child or minor ward into the voting booth with you.
15. You have the right to bring an unofficial sample ballot into the voting booth with you.
16. When you are within 100 feet of the entrance to a building containing a polling place, you have the right to wait in line to vote without anyone electioneering or trying to influence your vote.
17. You have the right to take this bill of rights into the voting booth with you.
Here are a couple more things to keep in mind as you go to vote on campus:
1. Minnesota and D.C. residents will NOT lose their tuition reciprocity if they register to vote in Wisconsin.
2. Alcohol citations are not felonies. If you have one, you are still eligible to vote.
3. You may encounter people at the polls who will try to tell you that you cannot vote. These people may look, sound and act official, but they are probably Republican ringers trained to suppress the student vote. If you think your voting rights may have been violated, immediately call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or even me personally at (608) 264-2875.
4. Lines at the polls may be long. There will likely be poll watchers there willing to get you hot chocolate or something, so don't get discouraged. However, another common Republican tactic is to tell students that they've been waiting in line for four hours, so if you hear something like this, know that the time is probably exaggerated.
5. You can still avoid long lines on Election Day by voting today or tomorrow 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the City Clerk's office at 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., City County Building, Room 103. This is also where you will have to go the day after the election to prove your residency if you cast a provisional ballot on Election Day.
Again, if you have any difficulty voting, call 1-866-OUR-VOTE or call me. And remember this: If you don't vote, you forfeit your right to bitch about politics for the next four years.
Nick Barbash is a sophomore majoring in political science and international studies. He can be reached at opinion@dailycardinal.com. His column runs every Thursday in The Daily Cardinal.
