FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP

Our Call as Catholic Citizens

Politics, for its part, should always be understood not as an appropriation of power, but as the “highest form of charity”, and thus of service to one’s neighbor within a local or national community. - Pope Francis

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) helps to discern which public policies and politicians best embody a respect for human dignity and the common good. This is especially important at election time. As the U.S. bishops said in November 2023, “On these often complex matters, it is the laity’s responsibility to form their consciences and grow in the virtue of prudence to approach the many and varied issues of the day with the mind of Christ.” To form our consciences, the following questions can help Catholics discern who best embodies the principles of CST.

Where does a candidate stand on:

• protecting human life from conception to natural death?
• preserving the state ban on abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia, and the death penalty?
• upholding the innate equality, dignity, and complementarity of male and female?
• protecting marriage as the lifelong union of one man and one woman?
• respecting the family and parents as the primary educators of their children?
• providing resources to vulnerable women and children?
• protecting religious freedom at home and abroad?
• eliminating violence, whether by guns, war, terrorism, torture, abuse, or trafficking?
• assuring basic support for people living in poverty, domestically and internationally?
• treating all migrants and refugees with dignity and respect?
• eliminating racism?
• increasing access to housing, healthcare, and education?
• upholding the dignity of work and the rights of workers?
• preserving our environment and natural resources?
• and all that promotes human dignity and the common good?

CST does not neatly fit into party platforms. Rather, it reflects ethical principles that can unite all people. As faithful Catholics and American citizens, we are all called to participate in public life with the mind of Christ.

As in years past, the WCC resources are based on the U.S. bishops’ statement, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States. We invite you to read the statement as it dives even deeper into our call as Catholic citizens.

Other WCC resources include a letter from Wisconsin's bishops, bulletin inserts on Our Call as Catholic Citizens and 2024 Wisconsin Voter Information, and a website with even more information and resources in Spanish. Parishes are invited to share the resources in bulletins and digital communications.

2024 Wisconsin Voter Information

General Election: Tuesday, November 5, 2024

MyVote Wisconsin

MyVote Wisconsin (myvote.wi.gov) is the State of Wisconsin’s official source for voting. There you can: register to vote, check your voter registration status, find your polling place, see what’s on your ballot, request an absentee ballot, and check provisional ballot status. You can also call the Election Commission’s Help Desk at 608-261-2028 or email elections@wi.gov. To confirm that you are on the pre-printed poll list at your designated polling station, contact your city or county clerk. To find your clerk, visit elections.wi.gov/clerks/directory.

Absentee Voting

Registered Wisconsin voters may request an absentee ballot but must first verify that they are registered to vote. This can be done at myvote.wi.gov/VoteAbsentee. If you are not registered or your name or address has changed, you will need to register or update your registration before requesting an absentee ballot (members of the military do not need to be registered to request an absentee ballot). Please allow sufficient time to both confirm registration and request an absentee ballot. Also make certain to be aware of deadlines for requesting an absentee ballot in advance of an election.

Voter Photo ID Required

A photo ID is required to receive a ballot in all regular and special elections. To learn if you have the right photo ID, how to get a free state ID card for voting, and what exceptions there are to the law, visit Bring It to the Ballot at bringit.wi.gov.

Voter Registration

For those organizing voter registration drives, please contact your local city or county clerk for guidance by going to elections.wi.gov/clerks/directory.

What Should I Expect at the Polls on Election Day?

The following is based on information from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Remember to bring an acceptable photo ID to the polling place. You should also bring along proof of residence, if you need to register at the polls.

1. Bring your photo ID. Voters should have their photo ID ready when they enter the polling place.

2. Check in with the greeter, if your polling place has one. Greeters will usually be able to verify if you are already registered or need to fill out a new registration form. If the polling place covers multiple wards, the greeter will be able to direct you to the correct line.

3. Fill out a new registration form if you are a new Wisconsin voter or if you have changed your name or address since you last voted. You will have to provide proof of residence when registering. You do not have to show your photo ID when registering, but you will have to show photo ID before being issued a ballot.

4. Poll workers will ask you to state your name and address. This is not a new requirement of the voter photo ID law. It has always been a requirement.

5. Poll workers will ask you to show your photo ID.

1. The voter’s photo ID must be one of the acceptable documents specified by law.

2. The voter’s photo ID must be current. For State of Wisconsin Driver License or State ID cards, Military IDs, and Passports, they can be expired, if they expired since the last General Election.

3. The voter’s photo ID must reasonably resemble the voter.

4. The voter’s photo ID must have the voter’s name on it.

6. The name on the photo ID must conform to the voter’s name on the poll list. An exact match is not necessary. For example, Bob conforms to Robert, Sue conforms to Susan, and Smith-Jones conforms to Smith if the voter has recently been married.

7. Poll workers will ask you to sign the poll list. If you are unable to sign because of a physical disability, you are exempt from this requirement. You should inform a poll worker that you are unable to sign.

8. Get your ballot. Poll workers write the Election Day voter number in the poll list, and issue you a ballot.

9. You can vote by provisional ballot if you do not have your photo ID with you. If you do not have a photo ID, you are allowed to vote by provisional ballot. You can bring your photo ID to the polling place by 8:00 p.m. You may also present your photo ID to the municipal clerk in person by 4:00 p.m. the Friday after the Election. If you provide photo ID by the deadline, the ballot will count. If you do not provide photo ID by the deadline, your ballot will not count.

Please be understanding and kind to poll workers!

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