May 15, 2023 - Introduced by Senators James, Spreitzer, Carpenter, Ballweg, Cabral-Guevara, Taylor and Tomczyk, cosponsored by Representatives Ortiz-Velez, Sortwell, Subeck, Allen, C. Anderson, Andraca, Bodden, Brandtjen, Cabrera, Conley, Gundrum, Gustafson, Joers, Murphy, Sinicki, Stubbs and Tittl. Referred to Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection.
SB286,,22An Act to create 8.10 (7), 8.15 (9) and 8.20 (10) of the statutes; relating to: the number of signatures on nomination papers. SB286,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau Under current law, generally, a candidate for a state or local office must file nomination papers in order to have his or her name on the ballot. The nomination papers must be signed by a certain number of voters residing in the jurisdiction of the office the candidate seeks. For example, a candidate for a statewide office at a spring election must collect at least 2,000, but no more than 4,000, valid signatures. The filing official, typically the Elections Commission or a municipal clerk, must determine whether the candidate has collected a sufficient number of valid signatures to have his or her name on the ballot. If the number of valid signatures is less than the minimum number required, the candidate is ineligible to have his or her name on the ballot.
Under this bill, if a candidate submits nomination papers with more than the maximum number of required signatures, but the filing official determines that the maximum number of required signatures does not result in a sufficient number of valid signatures, the filing official must review the additional signatures to the extent necessary to determine whether the candidate has collected a sufficient number of valid signatures to have his or her name on the ballot.
SB286,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: SB286,15Section 1. 8.10 (7) of the statutes is created to read: SB286,,668.10 (7) If a candidate submits nomination papers with more than the maximum number of required signatures prescribed under sub. (3), but the filing official determines that the maximum number of required signatures does not result in a sufficient number of valid signatures, the filing official shall review the additional signatures to the extent necessary to determine whether the candidate has collected a sufficient number of valid signatures. SB286,27Section 2. 8.15 (9) of the statutes is created to read: SB286,,888.15 (9) If a candidate submits nomination papers with more than the maximum number of required signatures prescribed under sub. (6), but the filing official determines that the maximum number of required signatures does not result in a sufficient number of valid signatures, the filing official shall review the additional signatures to the extent necessary to determine whether the candidate has collected a sufficient number of valid signatures. SB286,39Section 3. 8.20 (10) of the statutes is created to read: SB286,,10108.20 (10) If a candidate submits nomination papers with more than the maximum number of required signatures prescribed under sub. (4), but the filing official determines that the maximum number of required signatures does not result in a sufficient number of valid signatures, the filing official shall review the additional signatures to the extent necessary to determine whether the candidate has collected a sufficient number of valid signatures.
