Nov 08 2022
2022 General Election
Election Day
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.
Anyone can view the list of candidates running for office. For federal, statewide, and multijurisdictional judge positions, Wisconsin Elections Commission publishes and posts the Candidate Tracking by Office report ahead of the election. Voters can view exactly who will be on their ballot on the Type B notice published by the clerks on the Friday before the election. They may also view a sample ballot on MyVote.
Note: Sample ballots will not appear in MyVote until the list of candidates has been certified and added to the election by the clerks. Voter can expect to be able to view their sample ballot up to two weeks before the election.
The number of signatures needed to get your name added to the ballot is dependent on the level of office you are running for. Please consult the Ballot Access checklist for the office for federal, statewide, and multi-jurisdictional judicial offices. Local candidates should check with their local filing officers (county, municipal, or school district clerks).
Getting on the Ballot
Throughout Wisconsin, nomination papers and other required forms are the primary way for candidates to get their name on the ballot when seeking elected office. Following correct procedure when obtaining and submitting nomination paper signatures is crucial to ensure ballot placement for a candidate.
Want to View Candidate Nomination Papers?
As nomination papers come in from candidates, the staff at WEC scans the pages and uploads them to Badger Voters where they can be viewed, free of charge.
Circulating Nomination Papers During COVID-19
Numerous questions have arisen about ways to circulate nomination papers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wisconsin Elections Commission met and drafted a memo for candidates.
Recall Elections
Recall gives voters the right to reconsider their choice of an elected official; however, it does not automatically result in removal of an official from office. It provides an opportunity for voters to require an elected official to run for office again before the expiration of his or her term. An official must be in office for one year before a recall can be initiated. The requirements for initiating recall efforts are very specific and must be carefully followed. Please consult the recall manuals.
Number of signatures required
The petition must contain the signatures of qualified electors equal to at least 25% of the vote cast for the office of Governor at the last General Election held within the same district or jurisdiction as that of the officeholder. Once a recall committee registers with the filing officer, the official number of signatures required will be provided.
Information about Recall Committees
When there is a recall of a statewide office, recall committees must file with the Campaign Registration Form with Wisconsin Ethics Commission. Recall committees that have registered with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission are listed in the Campaign Finance Information System (CFIS).
Recounts
Elections are often decided by a few votes. In many cases they are decided by one or two votes out of the several hundred or even several thousand votes that are cast. An election may even end in a tie vote. These circumstances encourage a candidate, typically the one who loses the election, to have all the ballots counted again to assure all legal votes are counted properly, any illegal votes are not counted, and the proper procedures for conducting the election were followed by the election officials.
The process of counting the ballots again is known as a recount. There is no automatic recount. The procedures for requesting and conducting a recount are spelled out in the election laws. A recount is the exclusive remedy to test in court the right of a candidate to hold office based on the number of votes cast at an election.
This information is prepared by the Wisconsin Elections Commission pursuant to the requirements of Wis. Stat. §9.01(10).
Recount Manual
This manual explains the statutory requirements for requesting a recount, attempts to explain ambiguity in those statutes, expands on the statutory requirements with recommended procedures for conducting a recount, and contains sample forms for use during the recount.
State Candidates
Unless noted, these offices are elected in the Fall General Election (not the Presidential Election). Officials serve four-year terms starting the first Monday of January. A candidate must be a qualified elector of the state at the time of taking office.
The minimum qualifications to hold an office are:
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United States Citizenship
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At least 18 years of age (or older for certain offices)
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Satisfy residency requirement for specific office
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May not have been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States unless pardoned of the conviction.
Also, a candidate may not be disqualified by virtue of one or more of the impediments described in 6.03, Wis. Stats.
These state offices are considered partisan which means that the candidate runs as a representative of a political party.
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Governor
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Lieutenant Governor
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Attorney General
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Secretary of State
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State Treasurer
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Legislative offices:
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There are 99 Representatives to the Assembly who are elected every two years in the Fall General Election and serve a two-year term starting the first Monday of January. Candidates must be a resident for one year within the state and a qualified elector of the district at the time of taking office.
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There are 33 State Senators who are elected to staggered four-year terms. Candidates must be a resident for one year within the state and a qualified elector of the district at the time of taking office.
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District Attorneys are elected during Presidential Election years.
The CF-1 Campaign Registration Statement and Statement of Economic Interests are available from and filed with Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
The CF-1 Campaign Registration Statement and Statement of Economic Interests are available from and filed with Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
These offices are non-partisan which means the candidate does not run as a member of an political party.
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State Superintendent of Public Instruction
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Justice of the Supreme Court
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Court of Appeals Judge
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Circuit Court Judge
The CF-1 Campaign Registration Statement and Statement of Economic Interests are available from and filed with Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
A qualified elector of the state at the time of taking office. Article V, Section 2, Wis. Constitution.
A qualified elector of the state at the time of taking office
A resident for one year within the state and a qualified elector of the district at the time of taking office. Article IV, Section 6, Wis. Constitution. 65 Atty. Gen. 165.
Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin for 5 years immediately prior to the election and a qualified elector of the state, district, or circuit at time of election. Article VII, Sections 7, 10, 24, Wis. Constitution
Licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and a resident of the prosecutorial unit (county) at the time of taking office. Wis. Stat. § 978.02.
Registered Write-In Candidates
To register as a write-in candidate, a Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1) must be filed with the Wisconsin Ethics Commission prior to collecting or spending any money on the campaign. The deadline to register as a write-in candidate is 12:00 p.m. (noon) the Friday before the election.
Local Candidates
Candidates for local offices should work with the filing officer for that office to ensure they are meeting all the requirements to get on the ballot.
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County Office |
County Clerk |
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Municipal Office |
Municipal Clerk |
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School Board |
School District Clerk |
The minimum qualifications to hold an office are:
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United States Citizenship
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At least 18 years of age (or older for certain offices)
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Satisfy residency requirement for specific office
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May not have been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States unless pardoned of the conviction.
Also, a candidate may not be disqualified by virtue of one or more of the impediments described in s 6.03, Wis. Stats.
These local offices are considered partisan which means that the candidate runs as a representative of a political party.
- Sheriff
- County Clerk
- County Treasurer
- Clerk of Circuit Court
- Coroner
- Register of Deeds
These offices are non-partisan which means the candidate does not run as a member of a political party.
- County Executive
- County Supervisor
- Municipal Offices (including mayor, alderperson, trustee, supervisor, municipal clerk and treasurer, constable, municipal judge, assessor)
- Multi-Jurisdictional Municipal Judge
- School District Candidates
- Special District Candidates
Required Documents to get on the Ballot
The CF-1L Local Candidate Registration Statement is available from Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
Note: A county may enact an ordinance establishing a code of ethics for public officials that may require a candidate for county office to file a Statement of Economic Interests (SEI). Please contact the county clerk to find out if this requirement applies.
The CF-1L Local Candidate Registration Statement is available from Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
Note: A municipality may enact an ordinance establishing a code of ethics for public officials that may require a candidate for municipal office, in addition to the office of municipal judge, to file a Statement of Economic Interests (SEI). Please contact the municipal clerk to find out if this requirement applies.
The CF-1L Local Candidate Registration Statement and Statement of Economic Interests (SEI) are available from Wisconsin Ethics Commission.
There are important residency requirements for local candidates. The requirements for each office are listed here.
Qualified elector of district at the time of filing nomination papers. Wis. Stat. § 59.20(1).
A qualified elector of the county at the time of filing nomination papers. Wis. Stat. § 59.20(1).
A qualified elector of the city and, if aldermanic district, a qualified elector* of the district and actually residing in the district at the time of election. Wis. Stat. §.62.09(2)(a).
A qualified elector of the city and an actual resident of the city at the time of election. Wis. Stat. § 62.09(2)(a).
A qualified elector of the jurisdiction at the time of election or appointment, Wis. Const. art. VII §10(1).
Village office: A qualified elector and an actual resident of the village at the time of election. Wis. Stat. § 61.19
A qualified elector of the town at the time of taking office, except an assessor who is appointed under Wis. Stat. § 60.307. Wis. Stat. § 60.30(2).
At-Large Office: A qualified elector of the school district at the time of filing a Declaration of Candidacy. Wis. Stat. §§ 120.06(2), (6)(b)2.
Representative of an Apportioned Area: A qualified elector of the school district at the time of filing a Declaration of Candidacy and a resident of the apportioned area at the time of taking office (4th Monday in April). Wis. Stat. §§ 120.05(1)(d), 120.06(2), (4).
Registered Write-In Candidates
To register as a write-in candidate, you must file a CF-1L Local Candidate Registration Statement with the filing officer prior to collecting or spending any money on the campaign. The CF-1L form is available from the Wisconsin Ethics Commission or the local filing officer. The deadline to register as a write-in candidate is 12:00 p.m. (noon) the Friday before the election.