Hayward, Wisconsin Public Records

Registration is permitted up to and including Election Day, whether online through the day before the election, by mail postmarked at least 20 days prior, in person at the municipal clerk's office, or at the polling place on Election Day with proof of residence. Acceptable proof includes a Wisconsin driver's license, state ID card, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or government document showing current name and address. The City of Hayward conducts municipal elections each spring in odd-numbered years for positions including mayor, city council members, and occasionally school board seats. Residents also participate in Sawyer County elections for county board supervisors, sheriff, clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, and other constitutional officers. These races appear on spring nonpartisan ballots in even-numbered years or fall partisan ballots depending on the office. Wisconsin holds partisan primaries each August in even-numbered years and general elections on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Voters can locate their assigned polling place by entering their address at myvote.wi.gov, which displays the polling location address, hours (typically 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM), and sample ballot. The county will also elect county offices whose terms expire, potentially including County Board supervisors, Sheriff, and other positions. Wisconsin provides absentee voting options. Any registered voter may request an absentee ballot without stating a reason. Requests can be submitted online at myvote.wi.gov, by mail, email, fax, or in person at the municipal clerk's office (Hayward City Clerk at City Hall for city residents, or County Clerk for those in unincorporated areas). Absentee ballots can be mailed to the voter or voted in person at the clerk's office during the in-person absentee voting period, which begins two weeks before the election. Voted absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk by 8:00 PM on Election Day to be counted. The state requires voters to present photo ID when voting in person or submit a copy of photo ID with absentee ballot requests unless they qualify for exemptions. Election records in Wisconsin are extensively public. Voter registration lists are available for inspection and purchase by the public for purposes related to elections, political activities, and governmental purposes under Wis. Stat. § 6.36. The Wisconsin Elections Commission maintains statewide voter registration data. Campaign finance records for candidates and committees are filed with either the Sawyer County Clerk (for local candidates) or the Wisconsin Ethics Commission (for state candidates) and are searchable online at ethics.wi.gov. Candidate nomination papers, declarations of candidacy, and financial disclosure statements for local officials are maintained by the Sawyer County Clerk and are public records. Election night results by ward and precinct are published by the Sawyer County Clerk following each election and are posted on the Sawyer County website, with official canvass results certified within days of the election.