Outside of new rules for observers at polling places, Common Cause Wisconsin Executive Director Jay Heck does not believe your voting experience will change much in 2026. Earlier this month, new proposals were introduced by State Rep. Scott Krug before the Assembly Elections Committee that would tighten scrutiny around drop boxes for absentee voting and allow clerks to process ballots the day before Election Day—both issues that have been debated in Madison since they flared up during the 2020 Presidential Election.

Under the proposed rules, camera surveillance would be required for drop boxes, and clerks could begin counting absentee ballots as soon as the Monday before Election Day. Both proposals received lukewarm responses from both parties, with Wisconsin Public Radio reporting that Democrats argue they will not support measures that make it harder to vote, while Republicans are calling on their members to follow the Trump Administration’s lead and ban drop boxes altogether.

With two highly contentious statewide races on the ballot in 2026, Heck says it has become harder to pass meaningful legislation regarding elections.

A separate elections-related case being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court could change the rules in other states, but not in Wisconsin. Earlier this month, the nation’s highest court agreed to hear a challenge to Mississippi’s policy allowing ballots to be accepted up to five days after an election as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day. Opponents hope the Supreme Court will require all ballots to be received by Election Day in order to be counted—something Wisconsin already requires. Local candidates can begin circulating nomination papers beginning on December 1st.