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LRB-0326/2
JK:amn
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 11, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Spreitzer, Zamarripa,
Anderson, Hebl, Hesselbein, Pope, Subeck, C. Taylor and Vruwink.
Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
AB887,1,5 1An Act to renumber and amend 8.15 (4) (a) and 8.40 (2); to amend 8.04, 8.10
2(1), 8.10 (2) (b), 8.10 (4) (b), 8.12 (1) (c), 8.15 (2), 8.15 (5) (a), 8.15 (6) (a), 8.20 (2)
3(a) and 8.20 (5); and to create 8.15 (4) (a) 1., 8.15 (6) (ab) and 8.40 (2) (a) 1. of
4the statutes; relating to: nomination signature requirements and circulating
5or signing nomination papers for more than one candidate for the same office.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows a person to circulate or sign nomination papers for two or more
candidates for the same office in the same election. Under current law, if a person
signs nomination papers for two candidates for the same office in the same election,
the earlier signature is valid and the later signature is invalid. In addition, current
law provides that if a person circulates a nomination paper for two candidates for the
same office in the same election at different times, the earlier paper is valid and the
later paper is invalid.
The bill also changes the number of signatures required for nomination papers
for state treasurer and secretary of state so that the number must be not less than
1,000 nor more than 2,000. Under current law, the number of signatures required
for nomination papers for state treasurer and secretary of state is not less than 2,000
nor more than 4,000. In addition, the bill changes the number of signatures required
for a petition to appear on the presidential primary ballot to not less than 250 nor
more than 500 for each congressional district. Under current law, the number of
signatures required for such a petition is not less than 1,000 nor more than 1,500 for
each congressional district.

Current law requires a person who circulates nomination papers to certify that
he or she knows that the signers are electors of the ward, aldermanic district,
municipality, or county to which the nomination paper relates. Current law also
requires the circulator to certify that he or she knows the residences given by the
signers. Under the bill, the circulator must certify that, to the best of his or her
knowledge, the signers are all electors of the appropriate ward, aldermanic district,
municipality, or county and that, to the best of his or her knowledge, the residences
given by the signers are actual residences.
Finally, current law requires an individual who is circulating nomination
papers to certify that he or she intends to support the candidate for whom the
individual is circulating the papers. The bill eliminates that requirement.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB887,1 1Section 1. 8.04 of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,2,7 28.04 Nomination paper signatures. If any A person signs may sign
3nomination papers for 2 or more candidates for the same office in the same election
4at different times, the earlier signature is valid and the later signature is invalid.
5If any
. A person circulates a nomination paper may circulate nomination papers for
62 or more candidates for the same office in the same election at different times, the
7earlier paper is valid and the later paper is invalid
.
AB887,2 8Section 2 . 8.10 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,2,149 8.10 (1) Candidates for office to be filled at the spring election shall be
10nominated by nomination papers, or by nomination papers and selection at the
11primary if a primary is held, except as provided for towns and villages under s. 8.05.
12Unless designated in this section or s. 8.05, the general provisions pertaining to
13nomination at the partisan primary apply, including the certification requirements
14under s. 8.15 (4) (a) and (am)
.
AB887,3 15Section 3 . 8.10 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,3,2
18.10 (2) (b) Each nomination paper shall have substantially the following
2words printed at the top:
AB887,3,113 I, the undersigned, request that the name of (insert candidate's last name plus
4first name, nickname or initial, and middle name, former legal surname, nickname
5or middle initial or initials if desired, but no other abbreviations or titles), residing
6at (insert candidate's street address) be placed on the ballot at the (spring or special)
7election to be held on (date of election) as a candidate so that voters will have the
8opportunity to vote for (him or her) for the office of (name of office). I am eligible to
9vote in the (name of jurisdiction or district in which candidate seeks office). I have
10not signed the nomination paper of any other candidate for the same office at this
11election.
AB887,4 12Section 4. 8.10 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,3,1813 8.10 (4) (b) Only one signature per person for the same office candidate is valid.
14In addition to his or her signature, in order for the signature to be valid, each signer
15of a nomination paper shall legibly print his or her name in a space provided next to
16his or her signature and shall list his or her municipality of residence for voting
17purposes, the street and number, if any, on which the signer resides, and the date of
18signing.
AB887,5 19Section 5 . 8.12 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,4,620 8.12 (1) (c) No later than 5 p.m. on the last Tuesday in January of each
21presidential election year, any person seeking the nomination by the national
22convention of a political party filing a certification under this subsection for the office
23of president of the United States, or any committee organized in this state on behalf
24of and with the consent of such person, may submit to the commission a petition to
25have the person's name appear on the presidential preference ballot. The petition

1may be circulated no sooner than the first Tuesday in January of such year, or the
2next day if Tuesday is a holiday, and shall be signed by a number of qualified electors
3equal in each congressional district to not less than 1,000 250 signatures nor more
4than 1,500 500 signatures. The form of the petition shall conform to the
5requirements of s. 8.40. All signers on each separate petition paper shall reside in
6the same congressional district.
AB887,6 7Section 6. 8.15 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,4,138 8.15 (2) Only one signature per person for the same office candidate is valid.
9In addition to his or her signature, in order for the signature to be valid, each signer
10of a nomination paper shall legibly print his or her name in a space provided next to
11his or her signature and shall list his or her municipality of residence for voting
12purposes, the street and number, if any, on which the signer resides, and the date of
13signing.
AB887,7 14Section 7 . 8.15 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 8.15 (4) (a) (intro.) and
15amended to read:
AB887,4,1816 8.15 (4) (a) (intro.) The certification of a qualified circulator stating his or her
17residence with street and number, if any,
shall appear at the bottom of each
18nomination paper, stating he or she and shall state all of the following:
AB887,4,20 192. That the circulator personally circulated the nomination paper and
20personally obtained each of the signatures; he or she knows they.
AB887,4,23 213. That, to the best of the circulator's knowledge, the signers are electors of the
22ward, aldermanic district, municipality, or county, as the nomination papers require;
23he or she knows they
.
AB887,4,25 244. That the circulator knows the signers signed the paper with full knowledge
25of its content; he or she knows their respective .
AB887,5,2
15. That, to the best of the circulator's knowledge, the residences given; he or she
2by the signers are actual residences.
AB887,5,4 36. That the circulator knows each signer signed on the date stated opposite his
4or her name; and, that he or she,.
AB887,5,8 57. That the circulator, is a qualified elector of this state, or if not a qualified
6elector of this state, is a U.S. citizen age 18 or older who, if he or she were a resident
7of this state, would not be disqualified from voting under s. 6.03 ; that he or she
8intends to support the candidate; and that he or she
.
AB887,5,10 98. That the circulator is aware that falsifying the certification is punishable
10under s. 12.13 (3) (a).
AB887,5,13 11(am) The circulator shall indicate the date that he or she makes the
12certification next to his or her signature. The certification may be made by the
13candidate or any qualified circulator.
AB887,8 14Section 8. 8.15 (4) (a) 1. of the statutes is created to read:
AB887,5,1515 8.15 (4) (a) 1. The circulator's residence with street and number, if any.
AB887,9 16Section 9 . 8.15 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,5,1817 8.15 (5) (a) Each nomination paper shall have substantially the following
18words printed at the top:
AB887,6,219 I, the undersigned, request that the name of (insert candidate's last name plus
20first name, nickname or initial, and middle name, former legal surname, nickname
21or middle initial or initials if desired, but no other abbreviations or titles) residing
22at (insert candidate's street address) be placed on the ballot at the (general or special)
23election to be held on (date of election) as a candidate representing the (name of
24party) so that voters will have the opportunity to vote for (him or her) for the office
25of (name of office). I am eligible to vote in (name of jurisdiction or district in which

1candidate seeks office). I have not signed the nomination paper of any other
2candidate for the same office at this election.
AB887,10 3Section 10. 8.15 (6) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,6,54 8.15 (6) (a) For Except as provided in par. (ab), for statewide offices, not less
5than 2,000 nor more than 4,000 electors.
AB887,11 6Section 11. 8.15 (6) (ab) of the statutes is created to read:
AB887,6,87 8.15 (6) (ab) For the offices of secretary of state and state treasurer, not less
8than 1,000 nor more than 2,000 electors.
AB887,12 9Section 12 . 8.20 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB887,6,1110 8.20 (2) (a) Nomination is by nomination papers. Each nomination paper shall
11have substantially the following words printed at the top:
AB887,6,2112 I, the undersigned, request that the name of (insert candidate's last name plus
13first name, nickname or initial, and middle name, former legal surname, nickname
14or middle initial or initials if desired, but no other abbreviations or titles), residing
15at (insert candidate's street address) be placed on the ballot at the (general or special)
16election to be held on (date of election) as a candidate [(representing the (name of
17party)) or (representing the principle(s) of (statement of principles))] so that voters
18will have the opportunity to vote for (him or her) for the office of (name of office). I
19am eligible to vote in the (name of jurisdiction or district in which candidate seeks
20office). I have not signed the nomination paper of any other candidate for the same
21office at this election.
AB887,13 22Section 13. 8.20 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
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