Wisconsin’s absentee voting period is underway for the Nov. 3 midterm election, with local clerks required to send ballots by Sept. 17 to voters whose valid requests were already on file. The Wisconsin Elections Commission reported that 299,849 absentee ballots had been requested statewide and that 4,309 had been returned as of Sept. 18. Voters who mail their ballots should plan to send them by Oct. 20, the commission’s updated recommendation. That deadline gives election officials more time to receive ballots before the legal cutoff: ballots must reach a voter’s local clerk by the close of polls on Election Day. Voters also may return absentee ballots directly to their municipal clerk’s office, bring them to their polling place on Election Day or use an official municipal drop box in communities that provide one. Early, in-person absentee voting is scheduled to begin Oct. 20. Municipal clerk websites will list early-voting hours and locations, as well as instructions for returning mailed ballots. The absentee-voting process begins after months of efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to restrict ballots sent through the mail. Courts blocked those efforts, but election officials continue to emphasize the importance of allowing enough time for mailed ballots to arrive. Wisconsin’s highest-profile contest is the open race for governor between Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany. All eight of the state’s U.S. House seats, 99 Assembly seats and 16 state Senate seats are also on the ballot. The election could determine control of the Legislature, which has not changed hands in more than 15 years. Statewide races for attorney general, treasurer and secretary of state will also be decided. Voters will consider three proposed constitutional amendments that would bar state and local diversity, equity and inclusion policies; prevent governments from ordering places of worship to close during emergencies; and limit the governor’s line-item veto power. Voters can review their candidates and referendum questions through the state’s MyVote Wisconsin website at MyVote.WI.gov.