Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB563

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 10/26/23
• Refer: 10/26/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Top-five primaries and instant runoff voting for the offices of U.S. senator and U.S. representative in Congress. (FE)

Impact

The changes proposed by AB563 are expected to enhance voter engagement by allowing for more comprehensive choices beyond the traditional first-past-the-post system. Supporters of the bill argue that the ranked-choice method promotes greater electoral fairness and encourages diverse candidates to run, potentially leading to a more representative government. Additionally, the introduction of top-five primaries allows voters to select candidates from any party without being restricted to a single party ballot, which could result in more competitive election outcomes.

Summary

Assembly Bill 563 introduces significant changes to the electoral process for U.S. senator and representative elections in Wisconsin. The bill mandates the implementation of instant runoff voting at the general election level for these national offices. Under this system, voters can rank candidates in order of preference, and if no candidate receives a majority of votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes redistributed according to the voters' next preferences until a winner is declared. This reform aims to reduce the number of costly runoff elections and provide voters with a greater range of options.

Contention

However, some opponents of AB563 raise concerns about the complexity of ranked-choice voting systems and the potential for voter confusion. There is also apprehension about the implications of allowing voters to express preferences for multiple candidates and how this might affect traditional party dynamics and strategies. Critics warn that the system could complicate the voting process and may necessitate extensive public education campaigns to ensure voters understand the new voting method. As the bill moves forward, the debate surrounding the potential benefits and challenges of these reforms will likely intensify.