Chapter 5

5.40(5m) (5m) Notwithstanding sub. (1), the governing body of a municipality which uses voting machines or an electronic voting system may petition the commission for permission to use paper ballots and voting booths for a specific election, and the commission may grant such a request.

5.40(6) (6) A municipality which utilizes voting machines or an electronic voting system at a polling place may permit use of the machines or system by electors voting under s. 6.15 only as authorized under s. 6.15 (3).

5.40(7) (7) Whenever a municipality adopts and purchases voting machines or an electronic voting system, or adopts and purchases a different type of voting machine or electronic voting system from the type it was previously using, the municipal clerk or executive director of the municipal board of election commissioners shall promptly notify the county clerk or executive director of the county board of election commissioners and the administrator of the elections commission in writing.

5.40 History History: 1971 c. 304 s. 29 (2); 1973 c. 112; 1977 c. 427; 1979 c. 235, 311, 355; 1983 a. 484; 1985 a. 304; 1987 a. 391; 1989 a. 192; 1993 a. 399; 2003 a. 265; 2007 a. 1; 2015 a. 118 ss. 62, 266 (10).

subch. II of ch. 5 SUBCHAPTER II

BALLOT FORM

5.51 5.51 General provisions.

5.51(1) (1) The type face used on all paper ballots shall be easy to read.

5.51(2) (2) The paper used for ballots shall be 35 pounds per ream for sheets 24 inches by 36 inches. If a different size sheet is used, the weight per ream shall be proportioned accordingly, but shall meet this standard. This subsection does not apply to ballots used with electronic voting systems.

5.51(3) (3) All paper ballots shall be of sufficient width and length to provide space for all matter required to be printed on them. Except on ballots used with electronic voting systems, all ballot columns shall be separated by lines at least one-eighth inch in width.

5.51(4) (4) No stickers may be placed on a ballot by election officials except under s. 7.37 (6). Any other stickers applied by them shall not be counted.

5.51(5) (5) Each official ballot shall be printed on paper of uniform color. Different colors shall be used to distinguish office and referendum ballots and different colors may be used to distinguish separate ballots for different offices. Sample ballots shall be printed on a different color paper than the official ballots, and need not have the endorsement and certificate.

5.51(6) (6) All candidates’ names for the same office shall be placed, projected or composed on the ballot in the same size, style and color of type. The style and size of type shall conform substantially to the official ballot forms prescribed by the commission under s. 7.08 (1) (a).

5.51(7) (7) In partisan primary elections, all ballots shall be of uniform color and size, and the same type of paper shall be used for all ballots.

5.51(8) (8) Unless otherwise specifically provided, the form of all ballots shall conform to the ballot forms prescribed by the commission under s. 7.08 (1) (a).

5.51 History History: 1979 c. 260, 311; 1981 c. 377; 1983 a. 484 s. 174; 1985 a. 304; 1987 a. 391; 1999 a. 182; 2005 a. 92; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10).

5.52 5.52 Multi-candidate elections. If more than one individual is to be elected to the same office from the same jurisdiction or district, the ballot shall provide at the top of the column or to the right of the row for that office: “Vote for not more than .... candidates.”.

5.52 History History: 1985 a. 304.

5.53 5.53 Voting machine ballots.

5.53(1) (1) Voting machine ballots shall be placed, projected or composed on a board or screen inside the machine, under s. 5.64 and may be arranged in either columns or rows. The type face shall be easy to read, and the type size may be no smaller than 8 point.

5.53(2) (2) Where separate ballots are provided for, the names or questions shall be placed in separate columns or rows upon the machines so they are voted on separately, except as otherwise provided for referenda under s. 5.64 (2) (c).

5.53 History History: 1979 c. 260, 311; 1981 c. 377 ss. 4, 5; 1999 a. 182.

5.54 5.54 Notice to electors. Every ballot, except a voting machine ballot, shall bear substantially the following information on the face: “Notice to electors: This ballot may be invalid unless initialed by 2 election inspectors. If cast as an absentee ballot, the ballot must bear the initials of the municipal clerk or deputy clerk.”

5.54 History History: 1977 c. 427; 1979 c. 260, 311; 1983 a. 484 s. 172 (3); 1985 a. 304; 1989 a. 192; 2001 a. 16, 104.

5.55 5.55 Information. On every ballot, except a voting machine ballot, shall be printed “Official .... Ballot” or “Official .... Ballot for ....” followed by the designation of the polling place for which the ballot has been prepared, the date of the election, and the official endorsement and blank certificates. The number of the ward or wards or aldermanic district, if any, and the name of the municipality may be omitted in printing and stamped or written on the ballots at any location which is clearly visible at the option of the county clerk. Printed information and initials shall appear on the back and outside of the ballot.

5.55 History History: 1985 a. 304; 1997 a. 250; 1999 a. 182; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 265.

5.56 5.56 Multiple columns and rows. Whenever the number of candidates for any office requires the use of more than one row or column on a voting machine or whenever the official or agency having the responsibility to determine ballot positions determines that the number of candidates for an office requires the use of more than one column on a ballot, the official or agency having such responsibility shall require that the rows or columns be rotated in such a manner that all rows are positioned on top, or all columns are positioned to the left, in an equal number of wards or election districts. If the number of wards and election districts in which voting for an office is conducted is not equally divisible, the position of the rows or columns in the remaining wards or election districts shall be determined by the official or agency by the drawing of lots. The number of columns or rows shall be determined at the same time that the positions of the candidates’ names are determined for each primary and election.

5.56 History History: 1981 c. 377 s. 5.

5.58 5.58 Spring primary ballots.

5.58(1a) (1a) Generally. At spring primary elections the ballots under subs. (1b) to (2m), when necessary, shall be provided for each ward, except as authorized in s. 5.655. Only nonpartisan candidates nominated for office by nomination papers shall have their names placed on the official spring primary ballot under the proper office designation, but the ballots shall allow room for write-in candidates.

5.58(1b) (1b) Municipal; county supervisor ballots.

5.58(1b)(am) (am) There shall be separate ballots for municipal and county primaries, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

5.58(1b)(bm) (bm) For all cities the official spring primary ballot shall be arranged by the municipal clerk, using the same method as that used by the commission under s. 5.60 (1) (b).

5.58(1b)(cm) (cm) Towns and villages holding a primary under s. 8.05 shall arrange the ballot in accordance with the form prescribed by the commission under s. 7.08 (1) (a), which shall be the same form as provided in s. 5.60 (5) and (6), insofar as possible.

5.58(1c) (1c) Municipal judge. There shall be a separate ballot for municipal judges if they are elected under s. 755.01 (4), except as authorized in s. 5.655. Arrangement of the names on the ballot shall be determined by the county clerk or the executive director of the county board of election commissioners of the county having the largest portion of the population in the jurisdiction served by the judge.

5.58(1g) (1g) School district.

5.58(1g)(a) (a) There shall be a separate ballot for school district officers when so required, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

5.58(1g)(b) (b) In 1st class cities, the names of the candidates for the seat of the member elected at-large to the board of school directors shall be placed on the official city primary ballot and, except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of the candidates for any seat to be filled on the board of school directors from any election district. All names of candidates for the at-large seat shall be placed in one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot.

5.58(1g)(c) (c) The arrangement of candidates for school board seats shall be determined by the school district clerk or the executive director of the city board of election commissioners by the drawing of lots not later than the 2nd Tuesday in January, or the next day if the first Tuesday is a holiday. The method of determining arrangement shall be the same as provided in s. 5.60 (1) (b). Sufficient space shall be provided on the ballot for write-in candidates.

5.58(1r) (1r) Town sanitary district commission. There shall be a separate ballot for members of the town sanitary district commission if commissioners are elected under s. 60.74 and the boundaries of the district are not coterminous with one or more towns, except as authorized in s. 5.655. Candidates for different seats shall be listed in separate columns or rows if more than one seat is contested in any election. Arrangement of the names on the ballot shall be determined by the town clerk of the town whose board of supervisors directs the election, in the same manner as provided in s. 5.60 (1) (b).

5.58(2) (2) State superintendent of public instruction; judiciary; county executive; county comptroller; and county supervisors. There shall be one separate ballot for state superintendent, judicial officers, county executive under s. 59.17, and county supervisor, except as authorized in s. 5.655. In counties having a population of 750,000 or more, the ballot shall also include the office of comptroller and those offices under s. 8.11 (2) (b) and (2m). The arrangement of names of candidates for state superintendent, justice, court of appeals judge, and circuit court judge shall be determined by the commission in the manner specified in s. 5.60 (1) (b). Arrangement of the names of candidates for county executive, county comptroller, and county supervisor shall be determined by the county clerk or by the executive director of the county board of election commissioners in the manner specified in s. 5.60 (1) (b).

5.58(2m) (2m) Metropolitan sewerage commission. Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot for members of the metropolitan sewerage commission if commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am), with candidates for different seats listed in separate columns or rows if more than one seat is contested at any election. Arrangement of the names on the ballot shall be determined by the elections commission.

5.58(3) (3) Names on spring ballot. Only 2 candidates for state superintendent, for any judicial office, for any elected seat on a metropolitan sewerage commission or town sanitary district commission, in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, only 2 candidates for the office of comptroller and only 2 candidates for member of the board of supervisors within each district, in counties having a population of less than 750,000 only 2 candidates for each member of the county board of supervisors from each district or numbered seat or only 4 candidates for each 2 members of the county board of supervisors from each district whenever 2 supervisors are elected to unnumbered seats from the same district, in 1st class cities only 2 candidates for any at-large seat and only 2 candidates from any election district to be elected to the board of school directors, in school districts electing school board members to numbered seats, or pursuant to an apportionment plan or district representation plan, only 2 school board candidates for each numbered seat or within each district, and twice as many candidates as are to be elected members of other school boards or other elective officers receiving the highest number of votes at the primary shall be nominees for the office at the spring election. Only their names shall appear on the official spring ballot.

5.58 History History: 1971 c. 304 ss. 6 to 8, 29 (2); 1973 c. 134, 243; 1973 c. 334 s. 57 (2); 1973 c. 340; 1975 c. 93; 1977 c. 187, 272, 445, 449; 1979 c. 32, 221, 260; 1981 c. 20, 377; 1983 a. 484; 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (56); 1985 a. 89, 225; 1985 a. 304 ss. 27, 27m, 155; 1989 a. 192, 290; 1991 a. 5; 1993 a. 266; 1995 a. 16 s. 2; 1995 a. 27 s. 9145 (1); 1995 a. 201, 219; 1997 a. 35; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 1999 a. 182; 2003 a. 24 ss. 3, 4; 2005 a. 149; 2011 a. 45, 62; 2015 a. 118 ss. 63, 64, 266 (10); 2017 a. 207.

5.60 5.60 Spring election ballots. At spring elections all of the following ballots, when necessary, shall be provided for each ward, except as authorized in s. 5.655:

5.60(1) (1) State superintendent; judiciary; county executive; county comptroller; and county supervisors.

5.60(1)(ag) (ag) There shall be one separate ballot for state superintendent, judicial officers, county executive, county comptroller in counties having a population of 750,000 or more, and county supervisor, except as authorized in s. 5.655. For county supervisor, the ballot shall be prepared in accordance with ss. 5.58 (2) and 59.10 (3). Arrangement of the names of candidates for county executive, county comptroller, county supervisor, and municipal judge, if the judge is elected under s. 755.01 (4), shall be determined by the county clerk or the executive director of the county board of election commissioners determining ballot arrangement under s. 5.58 (1c), in the manner prescribed in par. (b).

5.60(1)(ar) (ar) The names of candidates for the same office shall be placed in the same column. No party designation may appear on the official ballot. Unless no candidate is certified to appear on the ballot for a state office, a space shall be provided on the ballot for electors to write in the name of a person for each office, regardless of whether there is a primary for that office.

5.60(1)(b) (b) The elections commission shall certify the candidates’ names and designate the official ballot arrangement for candidates for state superintendent, justice, court of appeals judge, and for circuit judge and for metropolitan sewerage commission commissioners elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am). The arrangement of names of all candidates on the ballot whose nomination papers are filed with the elections commission shall be determined by the elections commission by the drawing of lots not later than the 2nd Tuesday in January, or the next day if the first Tuesday is a holiday. Whenever a primary is held for an office, a 2nd drawing of all candidates for that office shall be held by or under the supervision of the elections commission not later than the 3rd day following the completion of the primary canvass to determine the arrangement of candidates on the election ballot.

5.60(1)(c) (c) When 2 or more judges of the same court are to be elected, the official ballot shall contain the names of all candidates, shall state the number of judges to be elected and the number of candidates for whom each elector may vote. Each candidacy shall show the branch being filled.

5.60(2) (2) Municipal judge. If the election is under s. 755.01 (4), there shall be a separate ballot listing the names of all of the candidates, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

5.60(3) (3) City.

5.60(3)(ag) (ag) Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of all candidates for city offices, printed in the same form as prescribed by the commission under s. 7.08 (1) (a). City election ballots may vary in form to conform to the law under which an election is held.

5.60(3)(am) (am) No party designation shall appear on the official ballot for city offices.

5.60(3)(b) (b) The city clerk or executive director of the city election commission shall arrange the official city ballot under s. 5.62 (4).

5.60(4) (4) School district.

5.60(4)(a) (a) There shall be a separate ballot for school district officers when so required, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

5.60(4)(b) (b) In 1st class cities, the names of the candidates for the seat of the member elected at-large to the board of school directors shall be placed on the official city ballot and there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of the candidates for any seat to be filled on the board of school directors from any election district, except as authorized in s. 5.655. The names of candidates for the at-large seat shall be placed in the same column or row on the ballot.

5.60(4)(c) (c) The arrangement of candidates for school board seats shall be determined by the school district clerk or the executive director of the city board of election commissioners by the drawing of lots not later than the 2nd Tuesday in January, or the next day if the first Tuesday is a holiday, if there is no primary, or not later than the 3rd day following the completion of the primary canvass if a primary is held. The method of determining arrangement shall be the same as provided in sub. (1) (b). Sufficient space shall be provided on the ballot for write-in candidates.

5.60(4m) (4m) Metropolitan sewerage commission. A separate ballot shall list the names of all candidates for metropolitan sewerage commission seats, if commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am), except as authorized in s. 5.655. The names for the different seats shall be placed in separate columns or rows if more than one seat is contested at any election.

5.60(5) (5) Village.

5.60(5)(ag) (ag) There shall be a separate ballot giving the names of all candidates for village offices, except as authorized in s. 5.655.

5.60(5)(ar) (ar) The offices to be filled shall be arranged on the official ballot in the order they are named in the statutes creating them. The names of the candidates shall be arranged by using the same method as that used by the commission under sub. (1) (b). Sufficient space shall be left under each office for write-in candidates.

5.60(5)(b) (b) Only persons nominated under s. 8.05 shall be placed on the official ballots. If no nominations are made, the spaces for this office shall be left blank.

5.60(6) (6) Town.

5.60(6)(a) (a) Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot giving the names of all candidates for elective town offices in the form prescribed by the commission under s. 7.08 (1) (a). There shall be 2 ballot forms. One ballot form shall be used for the election of supervisors to numbered seats and one ballot form shall be used for the election of supervisors to unnumbered seats. On the ballot used for the election of supervisors to unnumbered seats, all supervisor candidates shall be listed together and the voting instructions shall state “Vote for not more than.... [insert number of supervisors to be elected] candidates”. All towns shall elect their supervisors to unnumbered seats unless the annual town meeting adopts a plan to elect supervisors to numbered seats. The names of candidates for town office shall be arranged by using the same method as that used by the commission under sub. (1) (b). A space shall be provided under each office on the ballot for a write-in candidate.

5.60(6)(b) (b) Only the names of individuals nominated under s. 8.05 may be placed on the official ballot. If no nominations for an office are made, the space for that office shall be left blank.

5.60(6m) (6m) Town sanitary district commission. Except as authorized in s. 5.655, a separate ballot shall list the names of all candidates for town sanitary district commission seats, if commissioners are elected under s. 60.74 and the boundaries of the district are not coterminous with the boundaries of one or more towns. The names for different seats shall be placed in separate columns or rows if more than one seat is contested at any election.

5.60(7) (7) Referendum ballots. Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot setting forth all propositions requiring a vote in the form and manner provided by s. 5.64.

5.60(8) (8) Ballots for presidential vote.

5.60(8)(am) (am) Except as authorized in s. 5.655, there shall be a separate ballot for each recognized political party filing a certification under s. 8.12 (1), listing the names of all potential candidates of that party determined under s. 8.12 and affording, in addition, an opportunity to the voter to nominate another potential candidate by write-in vote or to vote for an uninstructed delegation to the party convention. The order of presidential candidates on the ballot shall be determined by lot by or under the supervision of the commission. Each voter shall be given the ballots of all the parties participating in the presidential preference vote, but may vote on one ballot only.

5.60(8)(bm) (bm) Except as authorized in s. 5.655, a separate ballot shall be provided for use in each voting district.

5.60(8)(c) (c) The official ballots for the presidential preference vote shall be securely fastened together at the bottom. The party receiving the greatest number of votes for governor at the preceding election shall have its ticket placed on top and the remaining party ballots shall follow in the same manner. A facsimile ballot notice shall be published as provided in s. 10.02.

5.60 History History: 1971 c. 304 ss. 9 to 11, 29 (2); 1971 c. 336; 1973 c. 134; 1973 c. 334 s. 57; 1975 c. 93; 1977 c. 187, 427, 445, 449; 1979 c. 221, 260, 355; 1981 c. 377; 1983 a. 484; 1983 a. 532 s. 36; 1985 a. 29 s. 3202 (56); 1985 a. 89, 225; 1985 a. 304 ss. 28, 155; 1987 a. 391; 1989 a. 192, 290; 1993 a. 266; 1995 a. 16 s. 2; 1995 a. 201; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 1999 a. 182; 2003 a. 24; 2005 a. 149; 2011 a. 45, 62; 2015 a. 118 ss. 65, 266 (10).

5.60 Annotation The national democratic party has a protected right of political association and may not be compelled to seat delegates chosen in an open primary in violation of the party’s rules. Democratic Party of United States v. Wisconsin ex rel. La Follette, 450 U.S. 107, 101 S. Ct. 1010, 67 L. Ed. 2d 82 (1981).

5.62 5.62 Partisan primary ballots.

5.62(1) (1) 

5.62(1)(a) (a) At the partisan primary, the following ballot shall be provided for the nomination of candidates of recognized political parties for national, state and county offices and independent candidates for state office in each ward, in the same form as prescribed by the commission under s. 7.08 (1) (a), except as authorized in s. 5.655. The ballots shall be made up of the several party tickets with each party entitled to participate in the primary under par. (b) or sub. (2) having its own ballot, except as authorized in s. 5.655. The ballots shall be secured together at the bottom. The party ballot of the party receiving the most votes for president or governor at the last general election shall be on top with the other parties arranged in descending order based on their vote for president or governor at the last general election. The ballots of parties qualifying under sub. (2) shall be placed after the parties qualifying under par. (b), in the same order in which the parties filed petitions with the commission. Any ballot required under par. (b) 2. shall be placed next in order. At polling places where voting machines are used, each party shall be represented in one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot. At polling places where an electronic voting system is used other than an electronic voting machine, each party may be represented in separate columns or rows on the ballot.

5.62(1)(b) (b)

5.62(1)(b)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2. and s. 5.64 (1) (e) 2., every recognized political party listed on the official ballot at the last gubernatorial election whose candidate for any statewide office received at least 1 percent of the total votes cast for that office and, if the last general election was also a presidential election, every recognized political party listed on the ballot at that election whose candidate for president received at least 1 percent of the total vote cast for that office shall have a separate primary ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the primary ballot as prescribed in par. (a) and a separate column on the general election ballot in every ward and election district. An organization which was listed as “independent” at the last general election and whose candidate meets the same qualification shall receive the same ballot status upon petition of the chairperson and secretary of the organization to the commission requesting such status and specifying their party name, which may not duplicate the name of an existing party. A petition under this subdivision may be filed no later than 5 p.m. on April 1 in the year of each general election.

5.62(1)(b)2. 2. Subdivision 1. applies to a party within any assembly district or county at any partisan primary election only if at least one candidate of the party for any national, state or county office qualifies to have his or her name appear on the ballot under the name of that party within that assembly district or county. The county clerk or county board of election commissioners shall provide a combined separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot that will permit an elector to cast a vote for a write-in candidate for the nomination of any such party for each national, state and county office whenever that party qualifies to be represented on a separate primary ballot or in one or more separate columns or rows under subd. 1. but does not qualify under this subdivision. The ballot shall include the name of each party qualifying for a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot under each office, with the names of the candidates for each such party appearing in the same order in which the ballots of the parties would appear under par. (a).

5.62(2) (2) 

5.62(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and s. 5.64 (1) (e) 2., any political organization may be represented on a separate primary ballot or in one or more separate columns or rows on the primary ballot as prescribed in sub. (1) (a) and in a separate column on the general election ballot in every ward and election district. To qualify for a separate ballot under this paragraph, the political organization shall, not later than 5 p.m. on April 1 in the year of the partisan primary, file with the commission a petition requesting separate ballot status. The petition shall be signed by at least 10,000 electors, including at least 1,000 electors residing in each of at least 3 separate congressional districts. The petition shall conform to the requirements of s. 8.40. No signature obtained before January 1 in the year of filing is valid. When the candidates of a political organization filing a valid petition fulfill the requirements prescribed by law, they shall appear on a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot for the period ending with the following general election.

5.62(2)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) applies to a party within any assembly district or county at any partisan primary election only if at least one candidate of the party for any national, state or county office qualifies to have his or her name appear on the ballot under the name of that party within that assembly district or county. The county clerk or county board of election commissioners shall provide a combined separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot that will permit an elector to cast a vote for a write-in candidate for the nomination of any such party for each national, state and county office whenever that party qualifies to be represented on a separate primary ballot or in one or more separate columns or rows under par. (a) but does not qualify under this paragraph. The ballot shall include the name of each party qualifying for a separate ballot or one or more separate columns or rows on the ballot under each office, with the names of the candidates for each such party appearing in the same order in which the ballots of the parties would appear under sub. (1) (a).

5.62(3) (3) The commission shall designate the official primary ballot arrangement for statewide offices and district attorney within each prosecutorial district by using the same procedure as provided in s. 5.60 (1) (b). On each ballot and on each separate column or row on the ballot, the candidates for office shall be listed together with the offices which they seek in the following order whenever these offices appear on the partisan primary ballot: governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state treasurer, U.S. senator, U.S. representative in congress, state senator, representative to the assembly, district attorney and the county offices.

5.62(4) (4) 

5.62(4)(ag) (ag) The county clerk or county board of election commissioners shall designate the official primary ballot arrangement for all candidates filing nomination papers in that office.

5.62(4)(ar) (ar) Within a county the county clerk shall arrange the names of all candidates filing nomination papers with the clerk’s office using the same method as that used by the commission under s. 5.60 (1) (b).

5.62(4)(b) (b) The county board of election commissioners in counties having a population of more than 750,000 shall prepare the official primary ballot. The commissioners shall arrange the names of all candidates for each office whose nomination papers are filed at the county level, using the same method as that used by the elections commission under s. 5.60 (1) (b).