Hartford, Wisconsin Public Records

Residents can register to vote online through the Wisconsin Elections Commission MyVote Wisconsin portal at myvote.wi.gov. While Wisconsin offers same-day voter registration at polling places on Election Day, residents can also register ahead of time. Registration requires a name, date of birth, residential address in Hartford, Wisconsin driver's license or state ID number (or last four digits of Social Security number if no state ID), and citizenship attestation. State law requires voters to have lived at their current address for at least 28 consecutive days before Election Day. The MyVote portal also lets residents check their voter registration status, find their polling place, view their sample ballot, request absentee ballots, and track absentee ballot status. Municipal elections in the city choose the Mayor and Common Council members (alderpersons representing city districts) for two-year terms in spring elections held each April during odd-numbered years. The next Hartford city elections will be held in April 2025. City government elections are nonpartisan. Residents can find information about local candidates, city council meetings, and ballot measures through Hartford City Hall at www.ci.hartford.wi.us. County offices including Washington County Board supervisors, County Executive, Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, District Attorney, Register of Deeds, Treasurer, and Coroner are elected in even-numbered years during the November general election or April spring election depending on the office. Voters can locate their assigned polling place by entering their address at myvote.wi.gov. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Wisconsin requires voters to present acceptable photo identification at the polls, including Wisconsin driver's license, Wisconsin state ID card, military ID, U.S. passport, naturalization certificate, or tribal ID card. The MyVote portal provides information about acceptable ID types and how to obtain free state ID cards for voting purposes. Wisconsin's open records law makes most election-related information publicly accessible. Voter registration lists are available from the Washington County Clerk, though certain personal information is restricted. Campaign finance reports for local, county, and state candidates are filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission and searchable online at ethics.wi.gov. Candidate nomination papers, declarations of candidacy, and statements of economic interest are public records. Detailed precinct-by-precinct election results for the city and Washington County are published by the Washington County Clerk after each election and archived online. In the November 2024 presidential election, Washington County reported strong voter turnout with approximately 70-75% of registered voters participating, reflecting Wisconsin's status as a competitive swing state in national elections. The county generally trends conservative compared to statewide averages, though Hartford's city electorate shows more political diversity. The November 3, 2026 general election will be significant for Hartford and Washington County voters. Wisconsin will elect its Governor and Lieutenant Governor, as the gubernatorial term is four years with the next election in 2026. Wisconsin does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (Senator Ron Johnson was elected in 2022 and Senator Tammy Baldwin faces reelection in 2024). Voters will elect their Wisconsin State Assembly representative (Assembly District 58 serves Hartford) and Wisconsin State Senator depending on whether the district is up in the cycle. Washington County constitutional offices including Sheriff, District Attorney, County Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Circuit Court, and Coroner will appear on the ballot. Additionally, county board supervisor seats for Hartford-area districts will be contested. Judicial elections for Circuit Court may also appear depending on vacancies or scheduled terms. Wisconsin voters can request absentee ballots through the MyVote portal at myvote.wi.gov or by contacting the Washington County Clerk. Absentee ballot applications can be submitted online, by mail, email, or fax. State law requires absentee ballots to be received by Election Day at 8:00 p.m. to be counted; postmarks do not extend this deadline. Voters can track their absentee ballot status online through MyVote. In-person absentee voting is available at the Washington County Clerk's office during the two-week period before Election Day, providing a convenient early voting option for local residents.