LRB-4394/1
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2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
2023 SENATE BILL 490
October 16, 2023 - Introduced by Senator W ANGGAARD, cosponsored by
Representatives MACCO, GUNDRUM, S. JOHNSON, MICHALSKI, O'CONNOR,
ORTIZ-VELEZ and ROZAR. Referred to Committee on Shared Revenue, Elections
and Consumer Protection.
AN ACT to renumber and amend 7.50 (2) (em) of the statutes; relating to:
counting write-in votes in the general election.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, subject to certain exceptions, write-in votes for a candidate
in the general election may be counted only if the candidate, through his or her
candidate committee, filed a registration statement for purposes of the election no
later than noon on the Friday immediately preceding the election. The registration
must include, among other information, the name and mailing address of the
candidate committee and the candidate committee treasurer.
Under this bill, no candidate losing in the partisan primary may file a
registration statement to have write-in votes for the candidate counted in the
general election.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SECTION 1. 7.50 (2) (em) of the statutes is renumbered 7.50 (2) (em) 1. and
amended to read:
7.50 (2) (em) 1. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, write-in
Write-in votes shall only be counted if no candidates have been certified to appear
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6 - 2 -2023 - 2024 Legislature LRB-4394/1
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SECTION 1 SENATE BILL 490
on the ballot. If, except that if a candidate has been certified to appear on the ballot,
write-in votes may only be counted for a candidate that files a registration statement
under s. 11.0202 (1) (a) no later than noon on the Friday immediately preceding the
election. If No candidate losing in the partisan primary may file a registration
statement under s. 11.0202 (1) (a) to have write-in votes for the candidate counted
in the general election.
2. Notwithstanding subd. 1., if a candidate certified to appear on the ballot dies
or withdraws before the election, all write-in votes shall be counted.
3. When write-in votes are counted, every vote shall be counted for the
candidate for whom it was intended, if the elector's intent can be ascertained from
the ballot itself.
(END)
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