Welcome to Town of New Hope, Wisconsin

Welcome to the Town of New Hope Website! 

Many of the postings below have active links to websites.  To access that link, right click on the link, then click on the web address that pops up.  And please give us a call if you run into issues (715-677-4784)…Thanks!

UPCOMING TOWN MEETINGS and IMPORTANT DATES:

• Regular February Board Meeting:  Thursday, February 19, 6:00 pm, North New Hope Church.  Agenda for that meeting can be found in the Agendas/Minutes/Notices tab.
• Public Voting Tabulator Test for Spring Primary:  Monday, February 9 at 1:00, North New Hope Church.
• Spring Primary Election:  Tuesday, February 17.  Polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Notice of Location and Hours of Polling Place February 2026
  • Spring Primary – Type E Notice 020326
• Absentee Voting by Mail: Request a ballot online (myvote.wi) in progress through Thursday, February 12  Ballots must received no later than 8:00 p.m. February 17 (mailed, returned to Clerk’s office or at the Polls).
• In-Person Absentee Voting (Early Voting): Starting Tuesday, February 3 through Saturday, February 14  In the Clerk’s Office, By Appointment – please call 715 677-4784.
• Spring Election:  Tuesday, April 7.  Polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • Notice of Location and Hours of Polling Place April 2026

ELECTIONS:   Elections for 2026 are rapidly approaching. Your vote matters, especially in the Spring Primary and Spring Election when we choose who will do the work here in Portage County.  The League of Women Voters has some great information about elected positions and additional election material at https://my.lwv.org/wisconsin/voter-information/learn-more-about-candidates-issues

• A strong country begins at the grass roots level, with each of us doing our part: know your elected officials, know who’s on your ballot, get involved, and please, vote.

Absentee By Mail:  In progress through February 12.

• To request an absentee ballot Go to MyVote.Wi (myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Vote-Absentee-By-Mail).

If you are not registered or your name or address has changed, you will need to register or update your registration before requesting an absentee ballot.  For instructions on how to do that, please visit:  https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Vote-Absentee-By-Mail

Absentee In-Person (Early Voting): Starting Tuesday, February 3 through Saturday, February 14  In the Clerk’s Office, By Appointment – please call 715 677-4784.

For Voter Registration- Deadlines and Absentee Deadlines for the February 17, 2026 Spring Primary Election, please see below.  Voters can register in the following ways.  All voters must provide a Proof of Residence document when registering to vote by mail, in-person in the clerk’s office, or at the polls on the day of the primary.  HERE are some additional dates to put on your calendar:

• Spring Primary:  Tuesday, February 17, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, North New Hope Church.  Primary held on the third Tuesday in February to nominate non-partisan candidates to be voted for at the Spring Election. State Statute 5.02(22) 
• Spring Election:  Tuesday, April 7, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, North New Hope Church.  Election held on the first Tuesday in April to elect judicial, educational, and municipal officers, and non-partisan county officers, and to express preferences for the person to be the presidential candidate for each part in presidential election years.  State Statute 5.02(21) 
  • Public Voting Tabulator Test for Spring Election:  TBA, North New Hope Church.
• August Primary: Tuesday, August 11, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, North New Hope Church.
• Public Test TBA.  Primary held in even-numbered years on the second Tuesday in August, to nominate candidates to be voted for at the General Election, and to determine which candidates for state officers other than district attorney may participate in the Wisconsin election campaign fund.  State Statute 5.02(12s)
• General Election: Tuesday, November 3, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, North New Hope Church.
• Public Test TBA.  Election held in even-numbered years on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November to elect United States senators, representatives to congress, presidential electors, state senators, representatives to the assembly, district attorneys, state officers other than the state superintendent and judicial officers, and county officers other than supervisors and county executives.  State Statute 5.02(5)
• Get the latest information on voting on MyVoteWisconsin (myvote.wi.gov) Here’s what you can do (note:  These blue texts are HOT links – just click on the tab you want, and then left-click the link that appears) :

• • My Voter Info     Find My Polling Place     What’s on My Ballot      Update My Name or Address   Register to Vote     Vote Absentee in Person      Vote Absentee by Mail      Track My Ballot
• If you need help in registering, please call Pat (715 677 4784), and consider either vote Absentee-by-mail or even better, Absentee-In-Person (at the Clerk’s office, saves the Town about $3/ballot, with the same security guarantee as voting by mail, but without any concern about long lines, or your ballot arriving on time).
• Your vote matters.  And spring election is when we choose who will do the work here in Portage County, which makes it especially important to vote.
  • February 17, 2026: Spring primary
  • April 7, 2026: Spring election
  • August 11, 2026: Primary (if needed)
  • November 3, 2026: General election

Remember, you don’t need an excuse or reason to vote absentee, but you must be registered to vote.

• You can request an absentee ballot for one or all of the upcoming elections this year at MyVoteWI.gov.
• We strongly recommend voting ABSENEE In Person by making an appointment with the clerk (call 715-677-4784).  It takes 5 minutes, is secure and safe, guarantees that your ballot will be received on time, and saves the Town about $3.00 in postage per ballot.

Voter Registration– Deadlines for the February 17, 2026 Spring Primary Election 
Voters can register in the following ways.  All voters must provide a Proof of Residence document when registering to vote by mail, in-person in the clerk’s office, or at the polls on the day of the primary.  You can register online, by mail, at the Clerk’s office, or at the Polls on Election Day.

• January 28, 2026– Deadline to Register by Mail – Your voter registration form, along with proof of residence must be postmarked to your municipal clerk no later than January 28, 2026. Find your Municipal Clerk’s Contact Information here. 
• January 28, 2026– Deadline to Register to vote online. – Voters who are able to match their name, date of birth, Wisconsin Driver License or State ID number, and address with the Wisconsin DMV can register to vote online through January 28, 2026.
• February 13, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m.– Deadline to Register in Your Municipal Clerk’s Office- Voters may register in-person in their municipal clerk’s office during the clerk’s business hours until 5:00 p.m. on February 13, 2026.  Find your Municipal Clerk’s Contact Information here.
• February 17, 2026– from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.  Register to Vote at Your Polling Place- Voters can register to vote at their polling place on Primary Day, February 17, 2026.  Find your Polling Place here.  

Absentee Voting– Deadlines for the February 17, 2026 Spring Primary

All voters in Wisconsin can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them for any reason, but you must be registered before you can request an absentee ballot.   Voters may request their absentee ballot in writing.  To request an absentee ballot on MyVote.wi.gov click here.  You must provide a photo ID with your absentee ballot request, more information on photo ID can be found here.

• Absentee ballots will be mailed starting 21 days before local (spring) elections and 47 days before national (fall) elections.  You have until 5pm on the Thursday before Election Day to request an absentee ballot for an election. You can also request to vote absentee for multiple elections or even the entire year when requesting to vote absentee.  Be aware of return mail time – allow at least 7 business days for the ballot to be returned to your clerk.  Consider Early Voting/Absentee-In-Person (starting 14 days before an election and ending the Saturday before Election Day).  
• January 27, 2026 – Deadline for municipal clerks to send absentee ballots to voters with an active request already on file- Municipal clerks can begin mailing absentee ballots once official ballots are received and have until January 27, 2026 to send ballots to all voters with a request on file by that day. Requests received after January 27, 2026 must be fulfilled within one business day.
• February 12, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m.– Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Regular and Temporary Overseas Voters-  If you are a regular or a Temporarily Overseas Voter, your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 12, 2026. 
• February 13, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m.– Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Indefinitely Confined – If a voter is indefinitely confined, your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 13, 2026. 
• February 3, 2026, possibly though February 15, 2026– In-Person Absentee Voting period-  Voters can possibly request and vote an absentee ballot in-person in their municipal clerk’s office through February 15, 2026.  Office hours vary by municipality. Some municipal offices may not offer additional in-person absentee hours Please contact your municipal clerk for absentee voting hours. 
• February 17, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m.– Deadline for Hospitalized Voters-  Voters who are in a hospital may request a ballot be brought to them by an appointed agent if they are hospitalized in the 7 days preceding the primary.  Hospitalized electors may request an absentee ballot between February 10, 2026 and February 17, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
• February 13, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m.– Deadline to Request an Absentee Ballot- Military If a voter is in the military then your absentee ballot request must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 13, 2026. 
• February 17, 2026 @ 8:00 p.m.– Deadline to Return Absentee Ballot-  If you have already received an absentee ballot, you must return your absentee ballot by mail or delivery to your municipal clerk.  Your ballot must be received by your municipal clerk no later than 8:00 p.m. on Primary Day, February 17, 2026.

NEW HOPE REDISTRICTING  Late in 2024, portions of the state (including New Hope) went through redistricting, and then the 2024 fall election happened.  Here is a rundown of your federal, state, and local legislators and their contacts:2025 Local Fed State Legislators in New Hope 

Garbage and Recycling:

• Click on this link to get your 2025 garbage and recycling calendar.
  • 2026 Harter’s New Hope calendar 
  • 2025 Harter’s New Hope Calendar

DOG LICENSES:

• All dogs 5 months of age or older require a license.
  The fee is $12.00 for neutered or spayed dogs.
  The fee is $22.00 if not spayed or neutered.
  You must show proof of rabies vaccination for a license to be issued.
• You will need to send a copy of your dog’s rabies certificate, the appropriate fee, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the New Hope Treasurer Dorene Stolpa.  Your dog license, tag, and the information sent in will be returned to you in the envelope you provided.  Please e-mail the treasurer for more information at treasurer@tn.newhope.wi.gov
• A late fee of $5.00 shall be assessed to the owner for each dog not licensed by March 31st of the current year.
• First offense fines for County Animal control Ordinance violations are $169-$263.50 (this includes failure to license).

Portage Co Solid Waste Contract and Summary Pages can be found under GARBAGE and RECYCLING tab.

• What’s in your garbage?  Wondering what you can recycle and what can be thrown away?  Wondering what the garbage schedule is for 2025?  Here are several documents that should help.  Please call Pat (715) 677-4784 if you have questions.
• NEW HOPE Recycling NEWS

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY….The Town of New Hope Mitigation Plan 2024 is available (click the underlined link).  In serving our community, the Board and Staff have prepared and approved an emergency mitigation plan for New Hope (also available on the Ordinances/Resolutions section).  Any comments are welcome – please call or email Pat Zellmer, Clerk.

• Please take a look at our PC-Local-Emergency-Response-Guide-December-2024 document, which includes emergency contacts (starting on page 6) and procedures in an emergency.  It’s a work in progress, so please let us know how we can improve it – the best tool is only as good as it is useful.
• The Town Mitigation Plan (2025) is completed, and has information on what to do in specific emergencies, accessed here: Town-of-New-Hope-Mitigation-Plan-2024
• And we are looking for anyone who would volunteer in an emergency.  If that’s you, please call (715-677-4784) or email Pat Zellmer (clerk@tn.newhope.wi.gov) – we’re all grateful.

COMMUNITY ALERTS:

As you know, the Town of New Hope takes pride in its rural nature, but that has some downfalls, including how best to communicate with each other, especially in emergencies.  Here are two ways we’re working toward making this better:

• Sign up for local and county alerts (weather, safety, community).  Click on Portage County Community Alert system., then click on the link that comes up, and follow the simple directions.  It only takes a few minutes, and you can get alerts via cell phone, landline, and/or email.  It’s the closest thing we have to a phone tree, and much more certain… linked with the Portage County Sheriff and Portage County Emergency Management Offices.  You can cancel this at any time, and the information you provide is secure.  Thanks for giving it a try.
• With winter (and COLD weather) at our doorstep, in case of an emergency (especially power outages) click on Portage County Warming Centers to find a place near you.  You can also call (715) 346-1400 (non-emergency) or 911 to reach the Sheriff.