The Jackson County clerk is reminding area residents that Wisconsin has a 20-day deadline for completing voter registration before the Sept. 9 partisan primary.

Before Aug. 20, voters may register in the clerk’s office by voter registration drive or through the mail. After Aug. 20 and before Election Day, voters may register in the clerk’s office, according to Jackson County Clerk Kyle Deno.

Residents who want to vote in the partisan primary but are not yet registered may register in their municipal or county clerk’s office before Aug. 20. Registration by mail or by special registration deputy — often used in voter registration drives — is not possible after the Aug. 20 deadline. After that, residents must register in their clerk’s office or at their polling place on Election Day.

When registering after the Aug. 20 deadline in the municipal clerk’s office or at the polling place on Election Day, Wisconsinites must provide proof of residence.

“New voters must provide their Wisconsin driver’s license number or Wisconsin ID number and write their name exactly as it is on the license,” said Deno. “If they have neither one, they may use the last four digits of their Social Security number.”

In order to maintain only one voter record per active voter, the State Elections Division has recently mailed a letter to registered voters who do not have a current date of birth in the Statewide Voter Registration System. Voters who receive this letter are encouraged not to delay in responding with their correct date of birth in order to update their voter record. The voter’s date of birth is, by Wisconsin law, confidential.

In addition, registered voters who wish to vote by absentee in the partisan primary should know that the last day to submit a written request to the clerk for an absentee ballot by mail is 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Voters with questions about voter registration or absentee voting should contact Deno at (715) 284-0201 or see the State Elections Division website at http://elections.wi.gov.