Wisconsin's 2024 presidential primary election: date, who's on the ballot, voting deadlines

After the first two presidential primary contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, the Republican field has been whittled down to two candidates.

But where does Wisconsin fit into the primary timeline?

Voters in Wisconsin will head to the polls April 2 to select their presidential preferences. And while the state has an earlier contest this year, on Feb. 20, that election is a primary for local, nonpartisan offices.

Here's what to know about Wisconsin's presidential preference election, whether you can still vote for candidates who dropped out, and key registration and absentee voting deadlines to keep in mind:

More: What are Wisconsin's 2024 elections, and when are they? Four dates to put on your calendar.

Which other states have held their caucuses and primaries?

Iowa kicked off the presidential voting process with its caucus on Jan. 15, followed by New Hampshire's primary on Jan. 23.

Only two major Republican candidates remain: former President Donald Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Trump won in a landslide in Iowa, and defeated Haley in New Hampshire.

The next Republican primaries will take place in Nevada and South Carolina — where Haley has been elected governor twice.

The Badger State is toward the end of the presidential primary schedule — 12 states hold their Republican primary after Wisconsin does. Connecticut, Delaware, New York and Rhode Island share Wisconsin's April 2 primary date.

More: What's the difference between a caucus and a primary election? Here's how each works.

Who's on the April ballot in Wisconsin?

Voters will make their selections for president on the April ballot, in addition to making final choices for the local, nonpartisan races.

On Jan. 2, Wisconsin's Presidential Preference Selection Committee met to determine which presidential candidates will appear on the ballot. The state Democratic party presented one name: President Joe Biden.

The state Republican party named six candidates: former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former President Donald Trump.

Will candidates who dropped out still be on the Wisconsin ballot?

Even though all the presidential candidates above except Haley and Trump have dropped out, their names will still appear on the April ballot in Wisconsin.

So you could vote for a candidate who dropped out, if you choose. Writing in a candidate's name is also an option.

However, candidates have until 5 p.m. Jan. 30 to notify the Wisconsin Elections Commission if they no longer want to be included on the ballot.

When do voters elect the president?

Voters will choose the next president in the general election — Nov. 5, 2024.

The parties formally nominate their tickets at conventions this summer — including the Republican National Convention July 15-18 in Milwaukee.

In Wisconsin, voters will also determine if Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin wins a third term and choose who will represent the state in the U.S. House. The primary for those elections is Aug. 13.

When do I need to register to vote?

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has a list of key dates and links for registration, requesting ballots and finding your local clerk. If you need to register to vote before the Feb. 20 election, here are the dates to keep in mind:

• March 13: Deadline to send your voter registration form by mail or register to vote online.

• March 29: Deadline to register to vote at your local clerk's office.

• April 2: You can also register to vote at your polling place on Election Day.

What's the deadline for absentee ballots?

If you're planning to vote absentee, here are the dates to keep in mind:

• Feb. 15: Deadline for clerks to send absentee ballots to military or overseas voters with requests already on file.

• March 12: Deadline for clerks to send absentee ballots to most voters with requests already on file.

• March 28: Deadline for most voters, including overseas voters, to request an absentee ballot.

• March 29: Deadline for military and indefinitely confined voters to request an absentee ballot.

• March 19 through March 31: Voters may be able to vote in-person absentee through March 31, but contact your local clerk for exact dates and times.

• April 2 at 5 p.m.: Deadline for hospitalized voters to request an absentee ballot be brought to them.

• April 2 at 8 p.m.: Local clerks must receive your ballot by the time polls close on Election Day, so plan ahead if you're mailing your ballot back. You can also return it to your clerk's office, or your polling place or absentee ballot counting location on Election Day.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin 2024 presidential primary: Date, who's on the ballot