Feb 17 2023
Deadline for write-in candidates to file for the Spring Primary
Election Administration
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.