Benoit, Wisconsin Public Records

Wisconsin offers online voter registration through the MyVote Wisconsin website at https://myvote.wi.gov, where eligible residents can register to vote, check their registration status, find their polling place, view sample ballots, and request absentee ballots. Applicants need a valid Wisconsin driver's license or state ID card to register online. The registration deadline is 20 days before any election for online and mail registration, though Wisconsin permits in-person registration at the polling place on Election Day with proper proof of residence. Acceptable proof includes a Wisconsin driver's license, state ID, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or other official document showing name and current address. As an unincorporated community, Benoit holds no municipal elections for mayor or city council. Residents vote for Town of Bell offices, town board supervisors, town clerk, town treasurer, during the spring election on the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years, with the next Town of Bell elections scheduled for April 2025 and April 2027. Local voters participate in all Bayfield County elections including County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff, Clerk of Circuit Court, Register of Deeds, County Clerk, Treasurer, Coroner, and District Attorney. These county offices are typically elected in the fall general election during even-numbered years. To find their assigned polling place, residents should use the MyVote Wisconsin polling place finder at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-US/FindMyPollingPlace, which requires entering a residential address. Polling places are typically located at town halls, schools, or community centers. Voters in the Town of Bell generally vote at the Bell Town Hall. Wisconsin law makes numerous election records publicly accessible, including voter registration lists available for purchase for election related purposes, campaign finance reports filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission searchable at https://ethics.wi.gov/, candidate filing information and nomination papers, and official precinct-level election results. The County Clerk's Office publishes election results on the Bayfield County website following each election, and statewide results are compiled by the Wisconsin Elections Commission at https://elections.wi.gov/. In the November 2024 presidential election, Bayfield County saw approximately 60-65% voter turnout among registered voters, consistent with turnout patterns in rural Wisconsin counties during presidential elections. The county has historically shown competitive results between Democratic and Republican candidates, with recent elections often decided by relatively narrow margins. Looking ahead to the November 3, 2026 general election, voters here will decide several important races. Wisconsin's gubernatorial election will be held in 2026, as the governor serves a four-year term and was last elected in 2022. One of Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seats will be on the ballot in 2026, pending confirmation of which seat's six-year term expires. The entire Wisconsin State Assembly with its 99 districts and approximately half of the Wisconsin State Senate - odd-numbered districts in the 33-seat body - will be elected. Bayfield County voters elect the Wisconsin State Senate District 25 and State Assembly District 74 representatives. All constitutional county offices will be on the ballot including Sheriff, County Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Circuit Court, Coroner, and District Attorney. County Board Supervisors for all districts will also be elected. Wisconsin offers absentee voting both by mail and in-person. Voters can submit a written request to the Bayfield County Clerk's Office or use the online absentee ballot request system at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/VoteAbsentee. Absentee ballot requests must be received by the Thursday before Election Day for mail ballots, with a 5:00 PM deadline, though earlier requests are encouraged to ensure timely delivery. In-person absentee voting is available at the Bayfield County Clerk's office beginning two weeks before Election Day and continuing through the Friday before Election Day. Voters requesting absentee ballots by mail must provide a copy of their photo ID with their request. Wisconsin requires all voters, whether voting in person or absentee, to present an acceptable photo ID, including Wisconsin driver's license or state ID, U.S. Passport, military ID, veteran's ID, or tribal ID card.