Welcome Wisconsin Voters!
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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.
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.
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).
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).
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.
Wisconsin’s elections are highly decentralized, with elections conducted at the local level by over 1,900 local election officials in 72 counties and 1,851 municipalities. Municipal clerks in Wisconsin's towns, villages, and cities and the Board of Election Commissioners in the City of Milwaukee, are responsible for establishing polling places, acquiring voting equipment, recruiting and training poll workers, maintaining voter lists, administering absentee voting, and supervising the conduct of elections on Election Day.
Elections are administered at the state level by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC). The WEC is responsible for the administrative oversight of federal and state election laws including establishing uniform standards and training local election officials.
Click here to see the signed canvass statements from the Partisan Primary.
Official statewide and federal results take time to be collected and certified. Once they are certified, the official results are posted.
View the most commonly referenced topics, reports, guidance, and other documents for the November 5, 2024 General Election.
Before any voting system may be used in the State of Wisconsin, it must be approved by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Voting Equipment may be accredited by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) prior to its approval by WEC, but EAC certification is not required for certification in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s election systems are secure thanks to the Wisconsin Elections Commission’s strong partnerships with federal and state agencies and local election officials.
All voters are entitled to vote privately and independently, but may choose to receive assistance. Click the link below to learn more about accessible voting options.
Appointments are available weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Please note that the Elections Commission will be closed on 12/24 & 25 and 12/31 & 1/1. Appointments on the deadline, January 7, 2025, are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please plan extra time if you are planning on turning in your papers on January 7.