On April 4th, voters will go to the polls and elect a new state supreme court justice in what some are calling the most important election of 2023.

The two candidates running for the seat are Janet Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly. The winner will join a Wisconsin Supreme Court made up of seven justices who preside over our state’s most pressing constitutional questions – deciding on cases involving abortion and voting rights to LGBTQ+ rights and criminal justice issues. You can learn more about the candidates’ positions on important issues with our voter information guide. The ACLU of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan organization that does not endorse or oppose candidates. We want every eligible voter to cast an informed vote.

Whoever is elected will serve on the high court for a term of ten years, so the actions they take will shape the future of our state. That’s why it’s so important that all of us show up to vote and make an informed decision.

There will also be two referendum questions on the ballot that would amend the state constitution and make our bail system worse. We’re urging voters to vote no on both.

Here’s a few things to remember as you head out to the polls Tuesday:

Are you registered to vote? Even if you missed the deadline to register to vote online, you can still register in-person at your polling place. Just don’t forget to bring proof of residence with you (it’s OK if it’s electronic – like on your phone).

Bring your ID – You’ll need a photo ID to cast your vote. Learn which forms of ID are acceptable. If you don’t have the ID you need to vote, you can get one for free at the DMV even if you don’t have documents like a birth certificate.

If you have an absentee ballot, return it (but don’t mail it) – If you have an absentee ballot, follow the instructions provided to fill it out properly. Remember that you need a witness! The witness must watch you complete the ballot, you and your witness must sign the envelope, and your witness must write their FULL address on it.

You can hand deliver your absentee ballot to your clerk’s office, polling place, or central count location if your community uses one. You must return it by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. 

Voters with disabilities can have someone help them return their ballot. Contact the Disability Rights Wisconsin Voter Hotline at 844-347-8683 or email info@disabilityvote.org for more information.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the most powerful court in the state, and the judges we elect to it have a monumental impact on our civil liberties and civil rights. All of us should make our voices heard.

In preparation for the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election, our ACLU of Wisconsin Foundation community engagement team engaged in voter education outreach in the Milwaukee area. Through interactive tabling efforts, the team connected with community members to share important voting information. We helped voters check their registration status and make a voting plan according to their individual circumstances.                                                          

Tabling events reached a considerable amount of community members in a short period of time and the team wrapped up the outreach activities feeling refreshed and energized by the community! The blue circles in the map represent the various community members engaged with, including some of the following zip codes:  

• 53051
• 53058
• 53202
• 53206
• 53207
• 53208
• 53216

The ACLU is dedicated to showing up for the community all year-round, not just during election time. So far this year, we’ve trained new legal observers, co-hosted UWM’s annual Black Feminist Symposium, bolstered our Student Alliance network and volunteered with Pathfinders Milwaukee and Street Angels MKE.

We provide Know Your Rights training, youth programming, community events, and so much more! Thank you to the many community partners that warmly welcomed us into their space.