Polls are open as Wisconsin voters weigh schools superintendent primary, local races

Wisconsinites are heading to the polls in the Feb. 18 election.

Statewide, voters will narrow down the number of candidates in a primary race for state superintendent. The top two vote-getters will advance to the April election.

In some communities, voters will see local races and proposals on their ballots, as well.

When are polls open in Wisconsin?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. If you’re in line by 8 p.m., you get to vote.

Click here to find your polling place.

What do I need to vote?

If you’re voting at the polls, you’ll need to bring a valid form of photo identification, such as a driver’s license.

How do I register to vote?

Wisconsin offers same-day voter registration up until the time polls close on Election Day.

Proof of residence, like a utility bill or a driver’s license with a current address, is needed to register.

Click here to check whether you’re already registered.

How do I vote absentee?

Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day in order to be counted.

That means it’s too late to drop that ballot in a mailbox. But you can still return that ballot to a local clerk’s office, polling place or central count location. Depending on where you live, a drop box may also be available for returning absentee ballots.

Who’s running for state superintendent?

Brittany Kinser and Jeff Wright are running in a nonpartisan race for a chance to unseat current Superintendent Jill Underly.

The top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s three-way primary will advance to April’s general election.

City of Milwaukee: Who’s competing in the primary for District 3 alder?

The local races unfolding across Wisconsin on Tuesday include a special election to replace former District 3 Alder Jonathan Brostoff on the Milwaukee Common Council.

Brostoff, a former Democratic state representative, died in November.

Two candidates in the eight-way primary will advance to this spring’s general election for a chance to represent the city’s east side.

What type of turnout is expected?

With only one race on statewide ballots, voter turnout is likely to be low.

That’s typical for a primary election, said Anastasia Gonstead, the clerk for the city of Mayville in Dodge County.

“We’re expecting a smaller than normal turnout for the February primary,” she said.

After Tuesday’s primary, winners will advance to an April 1 general election, which includes a hotly contested race for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. Although that race is officially nonpartisan, its outcome will determine whether liberals keep or lose control of the state’s highest court.