Why I Vote
A Message from Rabbi Toba Schaller. MJDS Rabbi and THI Board Member
My parent’s parents were refugees and I know my mom and dad vote today for them.
My brother and his husband vote for themselves and their children and the right for their family to exist. My sister votes for her safety and security as anti-Semitism rises all around us. My friends vote for their love of this country, on behalf of Israel, for countless good reasons.
I vote as the rabbi of the family. I vote because for 39 years I’ve heard the book of Genesis chanted out loud at just this time of year. I vote because in that sacred text God charged each of us with taking care of this amazing world. I vote because the mystics taught us that the world has the potential of perfection, but it is up to us to perfect it. I vote because I don’t believe that the poverty and violence and hatred and oppression that exists in this world is inevitable. I vote because our elected leaders have the power to repair this world in ways beyond what I can ever do, but when I vote I have a chance to do my part and exert my power. I vote because Rabbi Yitz Greenberg taught me that "Judaism is founded on human faith and divine promise that the world can be perfected.” I vote, because I believe in tikkun olam, repairing the world.
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In particular we are looking for folks to join us:
- witnessing ballots and returning them to clerks' offices/drop boxes
- Join in day-of encouragement of voters (car parade, voter support etc) in a socially-distant way
Need someone to witness your ballot/ deliver it to a drop box? Contact us!
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TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO MAIL YOUR BALLOTS! After today, please DROP OFF YOUR BALLOTS in the designated drop box by you as they must be received by 8pm on Nov 3. There is a full list of these below.
U.S. Supreme Court declines to change Wisconsin's voting rules, keeps Election Day deadline for mailed ballots. Read full article here.
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Do you know a college student eligible to vote? Check in with them and make sure they have voted or plan to vote! Help Hillel Milwaukee get out the Mitz Vote! Visit Hillel's website for more information: Mitz Vote
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A Reminder of the Basics
** see below for new info on times for MKE suburbs early in-person voting**
1. You can check and update your registration, find your polling place, see a sample ballot for your location, and request an absentee ballot at myvote.wi.gov. We urge you to do so well ahead of Election Day! You can ONLY register In person on Nov 3 as online registration is closed.
2. You can also register at the polls, whether you use in-person absentee processes or you go to the polls on Election Day, November 3
3. Information about what documents you need to register and what you need to vote are available here.
4. Be sure to fill out your absentee ballot correctly. See a quick video showing you how. Here are some errors to avoid, from Ann Jacobs:
Mistake #1: Voter doesn’t sign & date their certification. (#3 on this sample: https://elections.wi.gov/sites/elections.wi.gov/files/2020-08/EL-122%20Standard%20Absentee%20Ballot%20Certificate-portrait%20%28rev.%202020-08%29.pdf )
Mistake #2: Witness fails to put COMPLETE address in box #4 at line one. This MUST include the witness’s municipality. Because of the format, lots of folks miss this & it is the #1 reason witnessed ballots get rejected. They’re missing the municipality on the address line!
Mistake #3: Opening a sealed ballot envelope & then re-taping it or sealing it. That’s considered a ‘tampered’ ballot and will be rejected. Voter needs to ‘spoil’ that ballot & ask for a new one.
5. In this uncertain time, we are encouraging everyone to request an absentee ballot and to return it via a drop box supplied by each municipality. Dropping off your vote is both safe and secure. See below for Ballot Drop Box locations for City of Milwaukee and surrounding area
6. *****Early voting (aka in-person absentee voting) is from October 20-30. It takes place for the two weeks prior to the week of the primary, ending on the Friday before Election Day. See below for City of Milwaukee and surrounding communities locations. NEW info added!
** Because the November 3 election includes a presidential choice, turnout is likely to be high, so make a plan and then make a backup plan!** |
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City of Milwaukee Voter Information for City of Milwaukee Residents
(English & Spanish)
Ballot Drop Boxes
Ballot drop boxes will be open 24 hours/7 days a week.
Ballot drop boxes will be open until 8pm on Election Day.
Atkinson Library, 1960 W Atkinson Ave
Bay View Library, 2566 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Capitol Library, 3969 N 74th St
Center Street Library, 2727 W Fond du Lac Ave
Central Library, 814 W Wisconsin Ave
City Hall Complex, 200 E Wells Street (on east side Market St, between City Hall and Zeidler)
East Library, 2320 N Cramer St
Election Commission Warehouse, 1901 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Good Hope Library, 7715 W Good Hope Rd
Martin Luther King Library, 310 W Locust St
Mitchell Street Library, 906 W Historic Mitchell St
Tippecanoe Library, 3912 S Howell Ave
Villard Square Library, 5190 N 35th St
Washington Park Library, 2121 N Sherman Blvd
Zablocki Library, 3501 W Oklahoma Ave
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Greater Milwaukee Information Ballot Drop Boxes
Where to Drop Off Your Ballot
| North Shore Communities |
| Community |
Drop Box Location |
Address |
| Bayside |
deposit box outside the front door |
9075 N Regent Road |
| Brown Deer |
brown mailbox on the sidewalk |
4800 West Green Brook Drive |
| Fox Point |
near the front door |
7200 N Santa Monica Boulevard |
| Glendale |
metal drop box in the parking lot |
5909 North Milwaukee River Parkway |
| River Hills |
slot in the front door |
7650 N. Pheasant Lane |
| Shorewood |
white mailbox in the parking lot |
3930 N Murray Avenue |
| Whitefish Bay |
depository inside the front door |
5300 N. Marlborough Dr. |
| Ozaukee County |
| Belgium town |
TBD |
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| Belgium Village |
leftside of front door |
104 Peter Thein Ave |
| Cedarburg city |
southside of building next to planter |
W63 N645 Washington Ave |
| Cedarburg town |
will not have one |
1293 Washington Ave |
| Fredonia town |
TBD |
242 Fredonia Ave, Fredonia |
| Fredonia village |
cream colored drop box |
214 Fredonia Ave, Fredonia |
| Grafton town |
drop slot next to front door |
1102 Bridge St |
| Grafton village |
entry hallway or in parking lot |
860 Badger Circle |
| Mequon city |
in building on south side of City Hall |
11333 N Cedarburg Rd |
| Newburg village |
on exterior of building |
620 Main St |
| Port Washington City |
Blue box inside front door - OR - yellow box outside back door |
100 W Grand Ave |
| Port Washington town |
on the door by the south exit |
3715 Highland Drive |
| Saukville town |
TBD |
3762 Lakeland Road |
| Saukville village |
inside front door |
639 E. Green Bay Avenue |
| Thiensville village |
front desk - OR - left of entry door |
250 Elm Street |
Early Voting
| Municipality |
Phone |
Dates for Early Voting |
Days & Times |
Bayside
Village Hall |
414-351-8811
414-206-3913 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 23, from 8:00am-4:00pm.
- Monday, October 26 through Wednesday, October 28, from 8:00am-4:00pm.
- Thursday, October 29 through Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-5:00pm.
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Brown Deer
Village Hall |
414-371-3003
414-371-3050 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Wednesday, October 21, from 8:00am-4:30am
- Thursday, October 22, from 8:00am-7:00pm
- Friday, October 23, from 8:00am-4:30pm
- Saturday, October 24 9:00am-12:00pm
- Monday, October 26 through Wednesday, October 28, from 8:00am-4:30pm
- Thursday, October 29, from 8:00am-7:00pm
- Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-5:00pm
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| Cedarburg (City) |
262-375-7600
262-375-7606 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 23, from 8:00am-4:00pm
- Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-4:00pm
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| Cedarburg (Town) |
262-377-4509 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 23, from 8:00am-4:30pm
- Monday, October 26 through Thursday, October 29, from 8:00am-4:30pm
- Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-5:00pm
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| Fox Point |
414-351-8900 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-4:00pm
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Glendale
City Hall |
414-228-1718 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 23, from 8:00am-4:30pm
- Monday, October 26 through Thursday, October 29, from 8:00am-4:30pm
- Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-5:00pm
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Grafton (Village)
Village Hall |
262-375-5000 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 23, from 8:00am-4:00pm
- Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-4:00pm
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Mequon
City Hall |
262-242-3100 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20 through Friday, October 23, from 8:00am-4:30pm
- Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, by appointment
- Monday, October 26 through Friday, October 30, from 8:00am-4:30pm
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Port Washington (City)
City Clerk's Office |
262-284-5585 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Monday, October 20 through Thursday, October 29, from 7:30am-4:30pm
- Friday, October 30, from 7:30am-5:00pm
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Port Washington (Town)
3715 Highland Drive |
262-284-5235 |
General: October 20-30 |
- October 20 through October 31
- Monday and Wednesdays, 9:00am-4:00pm
- Thursdays, 4:00pm-6:00pm
- Saturdays, 8:00am-12:00pm
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River Hills
Village Hall |
414-352-8213 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Tuesday, October 20
- Thursday, October 22
- Tuesday, October 27
- Thursday, October 29
- Friday, October 30
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Shorewood
City Hall |
414-847-2700
414-847-2608 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Monday-Friday, October 20 through October 29, 8:00am-4:30pm
- Friday, October 30, 8:00am-5:00pm
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Thiensville (Village)
Village Hall |
262-242-3720 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Monday-Friday, October 20 through October 29, 8:00am-4:30pm
- Friday, October 30, 8:00am-5:00pm
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Whitefish Bay
Village Hall |
414-962-6690 |
General: October 20-30 |
- Monday-Friday, October 20 through October 29, 8:00am-4:30pm
- Friday, October 30, 8:00am-5:00pm
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Voter Volunteer Opportunities!
Here is an amazing list of resources for voter
volunteer opportunities and information.
Credit to Rea Katz for compilation
Advocacy
 The Center for Popular Democracy is offering a training for volunteers who want to help protect the vote in battleground states. This training will include sections on: De-Escalation Tactics, Poll Monitoring, and Knowing Your Rights. MORE INFO AND TO SIGN UP...
Multiple phone banking and texting opportunities:
click here for an opportunity that works for you!
 Join the League of Women Voters US for our “Protecting Democracy: Bystander Active Training” on October 29th at 3 pm EST. This training will cover de-escalation techniques to safely address tense situations at polling places to ensure every voter can exercise their right to vote safely. More Info...
More phone banking opportunities! Many options available! More Info...
 American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) --MILWAUKEE --- Phone Banking needed now Until Oct. 29th: The ACLU of Wisconsin's RFA will conduct virtual phone banks to speak with voters about their plans to safely cast their ballots. The phone banks will be open M-F from 5-8 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-recorded trainings is available as is one on one small group live trainings for new phone bankers If interested contact the RFA Campaign Coordinator, Ryeshia Farmer, by email (rfarmer@aclu-wi.org) or phone (414.272.4032 ext. 232)
Vote Riders
https://www.voteriders.org/states/wisconsin/
Advocacy group helping people to obtain voter ID’s. 100% free to those they help.
Election Inspector for the City of Milwaukee
• Call the Election Commission at 414- 286-3491
•Job description and application form: milwaukee.gov/election/Helpmilwaukeevote
Candidate and Voter Information
Vote 411 Project
vote411.org/Wisconsin
League of Women Voters project:
• Compares candidates on the issues
• Provides information on voting
Common Cause-Wisconsin
commoncausewisconsin.org
Comprehensive resource for voter information
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GET YOUR KNITTING READY!
THI's Holiday Gifts Drive is around the corner, more information coming soon!
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