Running for Public Office

Summary

All candidates must meet certain qualification requirements and must also complete and file proper ballot access documents in order to gain a spot on the ballot.

Qualifications

All candidates must meet the residency requirements established for the office to which he or she is seeking election.

• City Offices: A qualified elector* of the City and residing in the City at the time of election.
• *A qualified elector is defined in Wis. Stat. § 6.02, as a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, who has resided in the election district for at least 28 consecutive days before an election at which he or she offers to vote and who is not disqualified by virtue of one or more of the impediments described in Wis. Stat 6.03.
• Note: No person may hold any state or local elected office in Wisconsin if the person has been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States unless the person has been pardoned of the conviction. Additionally, no person may have his or her name placed on the ballot for any state or local elective office in Wisconsin if the person has been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States unless the person has been pardoned of the conviction (Wis. Const. Art. XIII, § 3(3)). Any person who falsely signs this statement could be convicted of a violation of Wis. Stat. § 12.13(3)(a), (am).

Ballot Access Procedure and Documents Required

All candidates must complete ballot access documents and return them to the City Clerk by the deadline:

Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162)

• Complete and submit a Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162) to the Clerk no later than 5:00pm on the first Tuesday in January. The filing of this form is also a requirement that must be met in order for a candidate’s name to be placed on the ballot. It must be signed in front of the Clerk or a Notary.

Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1)

• Complete and submit a Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1) to the Clerk as soon as you decide to run for office no later than 5:00pm on the first Tuesday of January. However, this must be filed before circulating nomination papers.

Nomination Papers for Nonpartisan Office (EL-169)

• Circulate and submit Nomination Papers for Nonpartisan Office (EL-169) to the Clerk no later than 5:00pm on the first Tuesday in January.
• Nomination papers may not be circulated before December 1. Any signatures obtained prior to December 1 will not be counted.
• For the position of Mayor, a minimum  50 and a maximum of 100 signatures must be filed. For the position of Alderman, a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 40 signatures must be filed. You are encouraged to obtain more than the minimum required in case there are signatures which may be disqualified.
• A nomination paper circulator must be a qualified elector of Wisconsin or, if not a resident of Wisconsin, a U.S. citizen, age 18 or older who would be eligible to vote in Wisconsin if he or she were a resident.

Candidates for local offices must file ballot access forms with their local clerk.  The forms are all available from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.