Now @ MPL...

With the Presidential Election fast approaching, it's a good idea to know where you need to go to vote.

Fortunately, the City of Milwaukee's Election Commission has made finding your polling location an easy thing to do. All you need to do is enter your City of Milwaukee address and it will tell you where you will be voting.

Not only will you get information on your polling location, but you will also get information on your elected officials on city, county, state and even federal levels.

So just check out the Election Commission Voting Location & Representatives Inquiry to find out where you will be voting and who your elected officials are.

From the Ready Reference Quick Fact File:

The First African American Voter in Wisconsin

Joe Oliver was the first African American to vote in Wisconsin. Oliver came to Milwaukee in 1835 and earned his living as a cook. Arriving on the schooner Cincinnati (owned by Milwaukee co-founder Solomon Juneau), Oliver was invited by Juneau to vote in the first Milwaukee city election. Although voting was limited to white males over the age of 21, Joe Oliver cast a legal ballot on September 19, 1835. Although most Wisconsin residents disapproved of slavery, the right of black citizens to vote was widely disputed in the years that followed. In 1849, a majority of Wisconsin voters approved black suffrage but voting rights were consistently denied to African Americans due to legal disputes over what constituted "a majority." With the encouragement of abolitionist Sherman Booth, Ezekiel Gillespie, a leader in Milwaukee's black community, attempted to register to vote in 1865 and was refused. Gillespie took the election inspectors to court, working with attorney Byron Paine. Gillespie's case went quickly to the state Supreme Court which in 1866 voted unanimously in favor of Gillespie and secured the right of African-Americans to vote.

There are good reasons why Milwaukee voters should care about today's non-partisan primary election. There's a changing Milwaukee School Board, the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction (Elizabeth Burmaster is not seeking re-election), and a vacant Circuit Court seat.

Check out the Election Commission Voting Location & Representatives Inquiry to find out where you will be voting and who your elected officials are. And you can still register to vote at your polling location--just bring in an ID and a piece of mail with your current address.

Confused about the issues or the candidates? Go to the League of Women Voters page or look at other sites on the library's recommended government links page to get informed.

Are you 18 years old and a new Wisconsin voter? Did you just move to the city of Milwaukee? Were you previously registered to vote but your name or address has changed since the last election? All Milwaukee Public Library locations have special registration deputies who can register you to vote.

2010 Election Dates:
Spring Election, April 6, 2010 (MPL voter registration ends Wednesday, March 17, 2010)
Fall Primary, September 14, 2010 (MPL voter registration ends Wednesday, August 25, 2010)
Fall General, November 2, 2010 (MPL voter registration ends Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Any questions about the voter registration process? Go to the City of Milwaukee Election Commission website or call them at (414) 286-3491.

For other information about government or politics, check out our Recommended Links on the MPL webpage.

Tuesday November 2nd is election day. Make sure your vote counts by checking which is your polling place and making sure that you are registered. Residents of Milwaukee can enter their address into the Election Commission's site to determine which is their polling place. The Election Commission also lists who your representatives are for selected national, state, and local positions. Another place to find information on who your state representatives are based on your residence is on the Wisconsin State Legislature's site. To view a sample ballot for the upcoming election and verify whether or not you are already registered, search the State of Wisconsin's Voter Public Access site.

photo by April Sikorski

Today is the day of the recall election. Your vote will help determine who will be the Governor of our fair state. If you didn't get the chance to vote early, there is still plenty of time to make your voice heard today. To see where your polling place is, enter your address into the Wisconsin Voter Public Access' search form. If you need any other information regarding the election, and any requirements for same day voter registration, look at the City of Milwaukee Election Commission's website. Now you should have everything you need to make your voice heard. Make sure you tell your friends!

Today is election day, and it is your last chance to cast your vote for this election cycle. Many have voted early, but those of you who haven't had the chance should make your way to the polls now. Polls are open today, Tuesday November 6th from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. People who are in line to vote at 8 P.M. will get to cast their vote, so stick with it, even if the lines are long! To find out where you will vote and what you need to bring if you need to register at your polling place, look at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board's My Vote Wisconsin site. There you can check to see if you are already registered to vote. If you would like to preview a sample ballot for this election, you can view it by entering your information and clicking on the link for a sample ballot for your voting district. Now that you've got the tools to vote, make sure you spread the word.