For anyone who hasn’t noticed the near constant political ads, there is a midterm election coming up Nov. 8.

Whether you’re a first-time voter or a longtime concerned citizen, UWM has information to help you get registered and vote. In fact, the university was named a Voter Friendly Campus for 2021-2022 for its efforts to encourage students, staff and faculty to participate in the elections that affect their future.

An upcoming Halloween event will spotlight campus voting – and offer sweet encouragement. Volunteers at tables in the UWM Student Union and Sandburg Hall plan to pass out candy and offer information about early voting on Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Nov. 7 and 8, stop by the “Donut Forget to Vote” tables for another treat — doughnut holes and coffee while supplies last – from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Union and Sandburg Hall.

UWM is hosting an early voting site, open to members of the UWM community who are city of Milwaukee residents, from Monday, Oct. 31, to Friday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Union site is in the hallway near Union Station – the area where Parking & Transit was located before construction.

More information on how to vote in advance in person or absentee is available on the My Vote Wisconsin website.

The UWM nonpartisan Student Voter Information webpage, has links to information about how to register, where to vote, identification required, what’s on the ballot and voting times and hours for all locations. The site also offers information on how instructors can bring presentations into their classrooms (through Nov. 7).

Students can choose to register and vote using the polling place for their home address or their campus address — but obviously not both.

Students who do not have required identification can get free voter ID cards from the following locations:

• Milwaukee campus, Panther Card Office, Student Union Room W198.
• Washington County campus, Student Affairs/Solution Center office.
• Waukesha campus, campus library.

Students can also download a Proof of Enrollment letter, which can be printed from the “Academics” section of their PAWS account, as one way to verify residence.

In order to vote, you will first need to be registered where you plan on voting. You will need to register if:

• You are a first-time voter
• You have moved to a new address (or even changed apartment numbers)
• You have changed your legal name since the last time you voted

If you are voting at the same address as the last time you voted (including apartment number), you are probably already registered. To check if you are registered, visit MyVote Wisconsin.