Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Wisconsin

Ballot access for major and minor party candidates

Ballot access for presidential candidates
List of political parties in the United States
Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

Note: This article is not intended to serve as an exhaustive guide to running for public office. Individuals should contact their state election agencies for further information.

In order to get on the ballot in Wisconsin, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Wisconsin. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, see "Ballot access requirements for presidential candidates in Wisconsin." Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

See state election laws

Year-specific filing information

2020

U.S. House

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Wisconsin in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Wisconsin, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2020
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Signature formula	Filing fee	Filing fee formula	Filing deadline	Source
Wisconsin	1st Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	1st Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	2nd Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	2nd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	3rd Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	3rd Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	4th Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	4th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	5th Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	5th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	6th Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	6th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	7th Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	7th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	8th Congressional District	Recognized party	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source
Wisconsin	8th Congressional District	Unaffiliated	1,000	Fixed number	N/A	N/A	6/1/2020	Source

State House

The table below details filing requirements for Wisconsin State Assembly candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Wisconsin State Assembly	All candidates	200	N/A	6/1/2020	Source

State Senate

The table below details filing requirements for Wisconsin State Senate candidates in the 2020 election cycle.

Filing requirements for state legislative candidates, 2020
Chamber name	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Wisconsin State Senate	All candidates	400	N/A	6/1/2020	Source

For filing information from previous years, click "[Show more]" below.

2018

See also: State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018 and Wisconsin elections, 2018

See below for 2018 candidate filing deadlines.

2016

See also: Wisconsin elections, 2016

The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Wisconsin in 2016.

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016
Deadline	Event type	Event description
January 5, 2016	Ballot access	Last day for candidates to file nomination papers, declarations of candidacy and campaign registration statements for the spring election
January 15, 2016	Campaign finance	January continuing report due
February 8, 2016	Campaign finance	Spring pre-primary report due
March 28, 2016	Campaign finance	Spring pre-election report due
June 1, 2016	Ballot access	Last day for candidates to file nomination papers, declarations of candidacy and campaign registration statements for the general election
July 15, 2016	Campaign finance	July continuing report due
August 1, 2016	Campaign finance	Fall partisan primary report due
August 9, 2016	Election date	State partisan primary election
September 27, 2016	Campaign finance	Fourth Tuesday in September report due
October 31, 2016	Campaign finance	Fall general election report due
November 8, 2016	Election date	General election
Sources: Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Calendar of Election and Campaign Events," accessed January 11, 2016 Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "New Campaign Finance Laws Effective January 1, 2016," December 21, 2015

2015

To view historical information for 2015, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Wisconsin elections, 2015

There were no regularly scheduled state executive, state legislative or congressional elections in Wisconsin in 2015.

2014

To view historical information for 2014, click [show] to expand the section.

See also: Wisconsin elections, 2014

Wisconsin held a primary election for statewide and legislative offices on August 12, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. Voters elected candidates to serve in the following state and federal offices:

Governor of Wisconsin
Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Attorney General
Wisconsin Secretary of State
Wisconsin Treasurer
8 seats in the United States House of Representatives
17 seats in the Wisconsin State Senate
99 seats in the Wisconsin State Assembly

The 2014 filing deadline for all candidates was June 2, 2014. Candidates had file Statements of Economic Interest by June 5, 2014. The deadline for filing a petition to become a ballot status party was April 1, 2014.

Legend: Ballot access Campaign finance Election date

Dates and requirements for candidates in 2014
Deadline	Event type	Event description
April 1, 2014	Ballot access	Filing deadline for new parties seeking ballot status
June 2, 2014	Ballot access	Deadline for candidates to file Declarations of Candidacy and nomination papers
June 5, 2014	Ballot access	Deadline for statewide and state legislative candidates to file Statements of Economic Interests
July 21, 2014	Campaign finance	July continuing report due**
August 4, 2014	Campaign finance	Fall pre-primary report due**
August 12, 2014	Election date	State primary date
October 27, 2014	Campaign finance	Fall pre-election report due**
November 4, 2014	Election date	General election
February 2, 2014	Campaign finance	January continuing report due**
** Campaign finance reporting requirements vary according to the candidate's level of participation in each election. For more detailed information, see "Campaign finance" below.

Process to become a candidate

Declaration of candidacy, 2013

See statutes: Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, Chapter 8

The filing process for both ballot-qualified party candidates and other candidates (e.g., independents, non-recognized party candidates, etc.) is the same. The filing procedure, however, does vary somewhat according to the type of office being sought. Please note that only ballot-qualified party candidates can participate in primaries.^[1]

For federal candidates

A candidate for federal office must file a declaration of candidacy with the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The declaration of candidacy must state the following:^[1]^[2]

that the individual is a candidate for the office named on the form
that the individual meets the qualifications for office, or will meet the qualifications by the time he or she assumes office if elected
that the individual will otherwise qualify for office if nominated and elected

The declaration of candidacy must be sworn before an individual authorized to administer oaths. The declaration of candidacy must be filed by 5:00 p.m. on June 1 preceding the election (if June 1 falls on non-business day, the form will be due on the next preceding business day).^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]

In addition to the declaration of candidacy, the candidate must submit nomination papers to the Wisconsin Elections Commission. The number of signatures required varies according to the office being sought. Requirements are summarized in the table below.^[1]^[3]^[4]

Nomination paper signature requirements for federal candidates
Office	Minimum signatures	Maximum signatures
United States Senator	2,000	4,000
United States Representative	1,000	2,000

Nomination papers must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on June 1 preceding the election (if June 1 falls on non-business day, the form will be due on the next preceding business day).^[1]^[3]^[4]

For state candidates

A candidate for statewide or state legislative office must file a declaration of candidacy (the same as that filed by federal candidates). Like federal candidates, a candidate for state-level office must also file nomination papers. Signature requirements vary according to the office being sought. These requirements are summarized in the table below.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Nomination paper signature requirements for state-level candidates
Office	Minimum signatures	Maximum signatures
Statewide offices (e.g., governor, secretary of state, treasurer, etc.)	2,000	4,000
State senator	400	800
State representative	200	400

Declarations of candidacy and nomination papers must be filed with the Wisconsin Elections Commission by 5:00 p.m. on June 1 preceding the election (if June 1 falls on non-business day, the form will be due on the next preceding business day).^[3]^[4]^[5]

In addition to these documents, a state-level candidate must also submit a statement of economic interests to the Wisconsin Elections Commission by 4:30 p.m. on the third day following the last day for filing nomination papers.^[3]^[4]^[5]

Write-in candidates

On April 2, 2014, Governor Scott Walker signed into law AB 419, which requires that write-in candidates file campaign finance statements in order to have their votes tallied. Otherwise, there are no specific filing requirements for write-in candidates.^[6]

Petition requirements

See also: Methods for signing candidate nominating petitions

State and federal candidate filing deadlines for 2018
See the articles listed below for more information about ballot access requirements for the 2018 election cycle.
Independent candidate petition requirements for: Gubernatorial candidates U.S. Senate candidates U.S. House candidates

See statutes: Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, Chapter 8, Section 40

In some cases, candidates may need to obtain signatures via the petition process to gain access to the ballot. This section outlines the laws and regulations pertaining to petitions and circulators in Wisconsin.

Format requirements

Each sheet of a petition must include the word "PETITION" at the top in boldface type. Any individual signing a petition must include his or her signature, address, and date of signing.^[7]

Nomination papers

Nomination papers cannot be circulated prior to April 15 in the year of the election. Nomination papers for ballot-qualified party candidates must include the following text at the top:^[8]

“

I, the undersigned, request that the name of (insert candidate's last name plus first name, nickname or initial, and middle name, former legal surname, nickname or middle initial or initials if desired, but no other abbreviations or titles) residing at (insert candidate's street address) be placed on the ballot at the (general or special) election to be held on (date of election) as a candidate representing the (name of party) so that voters will have the opportunity to vote for (him or her) for the office of (name of office). I am eligible to vote in (name of jurisdiction or district in which candidate seeks office). I have not signed the nomination paper of any other candidate for the same office at this election.^[9]

”

Similarly, nomination papers for independent or non-recognized party candidates participating in the general election must include the following text at the top:^[10]

“

I, the undersigned, request that the name of (insert candidate's last name plus first name, nickname or initial, and middle name, former legal surname, nickname or middle initial or initials if desired, but no other abbreviations or titles), residing at (insert candidate's street address) be placed on the ballot at the (general or special) election to be held on (date of election) as a candidate [(representing the (name of party)) or (representing the principle(s) of (statement of principles))] so that voters will have the opportunity to vote for (him or her) for the office of (name of office). I am eligible to vote in the (name of jurisdiction or district in which candidate seeks office). I have not signed the nomination paper of any other candidate for the same office at this election.^[9]

”

Circulator requirements

A circulator certification statement must be included at the bottom of each sheet of a petition. This certification must state the following:^[7]

“

that the circulator personally circulated the petition and personally obtained each signature included in the petition;
that the circulator knows that the signers are qualified electors of the jurisdiction or district in which the petition was circulated;
that the circulator knows that the individuals signed the petition with full knowledge of its contents;
that the circulator knows the residences provided by the petition signers;
that the circulator knows that each signer signed on the date indicated;
that the circulator is a qualified elector of the state, or if not a qualified elector of the state, is a United States citizen age 18 or older who would be eligible to vote were he or she a resident of the state; and
that the circulator is aware that falsifying the certification is a punishable offense.^[9]

”

Election-related agencies

See also: State election agencies

Wisconsin Elections Commission

212 East Washington Avenue, Third Floor

P.O. Box 7984

Madison, Wisconsin 53707-7984

Phone: 608-266-8005

Toll-free: 866-VOTE-WIS

Fax: 608-267-0500

Website: http://elections.wi.gov/

Email: elections@wi.gov

Term limits

State executives

See also: State executives with term limits and States with gubernatorial term limits

There are no term limits placed on Wisconsin state executives.

State legislators

See also: State legislatures with term limits

There are no term limits placed on Wisconsin state legislators.

Congressional partisanship

See also: List of United States Representatives from Wisconsin and List of United States Senators from Wisconsin

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the congressional delegation from Wisconsin.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Wisconsin
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	1	3	4
Republican	1	5	6
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	8	10

State legislative partisanship

Below is the current partisan breakdown of the state legislature of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin State Senate

Party		As of December 2021
	Democratic Party	12
	Republican Party	21
	Vacancies	0
Total		33

Wisconsin State Assembly

Party		As of December 2021
	Democratic Party	38
	Republican Party	61
	Vacancies	0
Total		99

Recent news

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Wisconsin ballot access. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Wisconsin - Google News

External links

Official state and federal links

Other information

Ballot Access News – News updates and analysis of ballot access issues
ThirdPartyPolitics.us – Blog about American third party and independent politics
National Voter Outreach – Political consulting firm that specializes in organizing petition signature drives

Footnotes

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Government Accountability Board, "Ballot Access Checklist for 2014 Federal Candidates in Wisconsin," accessed March 27, 2014
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 21," accessed March 27, 2014
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 20," accessed March 27, 2014
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 ^4.5 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 15," accessed March 27, 2014
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Government Accountability Board, "Ballot Access Checklist for 2014 Legislative and Statewide Constitutional Office Candidates," accessed March 27, 2014
↑ Ballot Access News, "Wisconsin Will No Longer Count Write-in Votes Unless Write-in Candidate Files Paperwork," May 17, 2014
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 40," accessed March 27, 2014
↑ Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 15," accessed March 27, 2014
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 20," accessed March 27, 2014

[wifederalguide-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 Government Accountability Board, "Ballot Access Checklist for 2014 Federal Candidates in Wisconsin," accessed March 27, 2014

[wideclaration-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 21," accessed March 27, 2014

[wiindienominations-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 20," accessed March 27, 2014

[wipartynominations-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 ^4.4 ^4.5 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 15," accessed March 27, 2014

[wistateguide-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Government Accountability Board, "Ballot Access Checklist for 2014 Legislative and Statewide Constitutional Office Candidates," accessed March 27, 2014

[6] Ballot Access News, "Wisconsin Will No Longer Count Write-in Votes Unless Write-in Candidate Files Paperwork," May 17, 2014

[petitions-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 40," accessed March 27, 2014

[partynominations-8] Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 15," accessed March 27, 2014

[quotedisclaimer-9] 9.0 ^9.1 ^9.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[indienominations-10] Wisconsin Statutes and Annotations, "Chapter 8, Section 20," accessed March 27, 2014

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How to run for political office in Wisconsin