Candidates

Ready to File Your Paperwork?

Go to the Appointments Booking page to learn more and make your appointment.

Getting on the Ballot

Ballot Access is the term used when candidates have completed the steps to get on the ballot for an election. The process is outline in Wisconsin Statutes and Administrative Code and WEC has created numerous resources to help candidates navigate it.

Local Candidates

Town, village, and city offices and most county offices are local offices. WEC has the forms and lists the requirements for running for a local office.

Federal Candidates

Interested in running for Congress or President? WEC has forms for you and lists the requirements for running for a federal office.

Who's My Filing Officer?

A general list of filing officers for offices is listed below.

State Office Candidate	Wisconsin Elections Commission
County Office Candidate	County clerk
Local/Municipal Candidate	Village, town, or city clerk
School Board Candidate	School district clerk

State Candidates

Want to run for Governor, Assembly, State Senate, Circuit Court Judge, WI Supreme Court or another state office? WEC has the forms and lists the requirements for running for a state office.

Campaign Finance

If you have any questions related to campaign finance, please contact Wisconsin Ethics Commission.

Incumbents not Running for Reelection

If you are an elected official who is not running again, you are required to file a Notification of Non-Candidacy form with the filing officer to give potential candidates notice of an open seat.

Notification must be received by the proper filing officer no later than 5:00 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the deadline for filing ballot access documents to avoid an extension of time for filing such papers.

Write-in Candidates

Individuals running as write-in candidates are required to file their CF-1 with the filing officer for the contest by noon (12 p.m.)the Friday before the election in which they intend to run.

Voting thru SVDs FAQ

View all FAQ

Can I choose to vote in person either at a location for in-person absentee voting or on Election Day when I live in a care facility served by SVDs?

Yes! When the SVDs visit, you can decline to vote your ballot and vote at an in-person absentee polling location before election day or at the polls on election day instead.

I live in a care facility and I would like my ballot sent to someone else (spouse, child, guardian, etc.) so they can bring it to me and be my assistant. How do I do that?

If you are registered to vote from the care facility (meaning you used the care facility address as your residence) AND that care facility is served by SVDs, your absentee ballot will be delivered by the SVD's or mailed to your mailing address if you are unable to vote during either SVD visit. Your family member is welcome to be in attendance when the SVDs visit and act as your assistant.

Rather than vote with the SVDs, you could vote at the polls on election day or vote absentee in-person at your municipal clerk's office or alternate site.

Alternatively, if you maintain a home outside of the care facility, you would be able to register to vote from that address and could apply to receive an absentee ballot with that registration.

Can my Power of Attorney get me registered to vote, request my absentee ballot, and/or vote my ballot for me?

If your Power of Attorney is a family member, they may assist you with registering to vote and voting your ballot* but they may not do those things on your behalf without your presence (Wis. Stat. 6.875(6)(c)1). Your Power of Attorney may request your absentee ballot on your behalf.

*If you are in a care facility served by SVDs, they will need to be in attendance during one of those visits in order to assist you.

Who do I file my candidacy forms with?

Candidates file their forms with the filing officer at the level of office they are running for. Federal, Statewide, and multijurisdictional judicial candidates file their Declaration of Candidacy and Nomination Papers with Wisconsin Elections Commission. Statewide, and multijurisdictional judicial candidates file their Campaign Finance Registration Statement and Statement of Economic Interests with Wisconsin Ethics Commission.