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AB516: Bill Text
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2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-4578/1
JK:skw
2025 ASSEMBLY BILL 516
October 15, 2025 - Introduced by Representatives
Rivera-Wagner
,
Snodgrass
,
Andraca
,
Arney
,
Clancy
,
DeSmidt
,
Emerson
,
Johnson
,
Madison
,
Miresse
,
Phelps
,
Roe
,
Sinicki
,
Stroud
,
Stubbs
,
Subeck
and
Palmeri
, cosponsored by Senators
Larson
,
Dassler-Alfheim
and
L. Johnson
. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.
AB516,1,7
1
An Act
to renumber and amend
7.60 (4) (c);
to amend
5.01 (4) (a), 5.01 (4)
2
(b), 5.01 (4) (c), 7.08 (1) (c), 7.50 (1) (b), 7.50 (1) (c), 7.50 (2) (intro.), 7.51 (4) (a),
3
7.51 (5) (a) 3., 7.53 (1) (a), 7.60 (4) (a), 10.02 (3) (intro.) and 120.06 (7) (b);
to
4
create
5.05 (1) (g), 5.20, 6.80 (2) (g), 7.60 (4) (c) 3., 7.60 (4) (c) 4., 7.62, 8.05 (1)
5
(L), 10.02 (4) and 20.510 (1) (ed) of the statutes;
relating to:
ranked-choice
6
voting for local nonpartisan elections, granting rule-making authority, and
7
making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill allows local governmental units to enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution to use ranked-choice voting for the election of all local officials, not including recall elections for any such officials. The bill defines “local governmental unit” as a county, city, village, town, or special purpose district, including a school district. Under ranked-choice voting, each voter may rank as many preferences for each office or seat as there are candidates whose names appear on the ballot for that office or seat. If the voter indicates a preference for more than one candidate for an office or seat, the voter must indicate a preference between the candidates by designating one as “first choice,” another as “second choice,” and ranking subsequent choices in sequential preference. A voter may also indicate a preference for one or more write-in candidates for any office or seat.
A voter who casts one vote for a candidate for an office or seat but who does not indicate a preference is considered to have cast a “first-choice” preference for that candidate. If any candidate receives a majority of the first-choice preferences for the office or seat, that candidate is elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice preferences for an office or seat, the name of the candidate receiving the least number of first-choice preferences is dropped and the second-choice preferences of the voters who preferred that candidate, if any, are then added to the first-choice preferences received by the other candidates. Subsequent preferences of those voters are allocated to the other candidates in a similar manner as candidates with the fewest voter preferences are eliminated. If any candidate for the office or seat then has a majority of the combined first-choice and reallocated preferences, that candidate is elected. If not, the procedure is repeated until one candidate receives a majority of the combined first-choice and reallocated preferences.
In the case of a multiple-seat district, the candidates whose vote total is equal to or greater than the threshold number of votes are elected. The threshold is determined by dividing the total number of votes cast for the open seats by the number of the open seats, plus one, and adding one to the quotient, disregarding any fractions. Generally, if a candidate receives more than the number of threshold votes during a round of counting the preferential votes, his or her surplus votes are allocated to the continuing candidates in order of preference until all open seats are filled. A voter may also indicate a preference for one or more write-in candidates.
Under ranked-choice voting, no primary election is held for an elective office in a local governmental unit.
Finally, the bill authorizes the Elections Commission to make expenditures to implement and administer ranked-choice voting, including updating equipment and software and implementing secure technologies, and to make grants to local governmental units for the same purpose.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
AB516,1
1
Section
1
.
5.01 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,3,4
2
5.01
(4)
(a)
If
Except as provided under s. 7.62, if
2 or more candidates for the
3
same office receive the greatest, but an equal number of votes, the winner shall be
4
chosen by lot in the presence of the board of canvassers charged with the
1
responsibility to determine the election, or in the case of an election for state or
2
national office or metropolitan sewerage commissioner, if the commissioner is
3
elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am), in the presence of the chairperson of the elections
4
commission or the chairperson’s designee.
AB516,2
5
Section
2
.
5.01 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,3,9
6
5.01
(4)
(b)
If
Except as provided under s. 7.62, if
, in a primary, 2 or more
7
candidates receive an equal but not the greatest number of votes so that only one of
8
those candidates with equal votes may advance to the final election, the choice shall
9
similarly be made by drawing lots.
AB516,3
10
Section
3
.
5.01 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,3,14
11
5.01
(4)
(c)
The
For purposes of pars. (a) and (b), the
candidates may, if all
12
those tied for the same office are present, draw for themselves. Upon refusal or
13
absence of any of the candidates, the board of canvassers shall appoint a competent
14
person to draw, and upon the results declare and certify the winner.
AB516,4
15
Section
4
.
5.05 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB516,3,19
16
5.05
(1)
(g) Make grants to local governmental units, as defined in s. 5.20 (1)
17
(a), to update equipment and software, including the implementation of secure
18
technologies, to administer ranked-choice voting under s. 5.20 and the canvass
19
procedure for ranked-choice voting under s. 7.62.
AB516,5
20
Section
5
.
5.20 of the statutes is created to read:
AB516,3,21
21
5.20
Ranked-choice voting.
(1)
In this section:
AB516,3,23
22
(a) “Local governmental unit” means a county, city, village, town, or special
23
purpose district, including a school district.
AB516,4,4
1
(b) “Ranked-choice voting” means a voting method in which the electors voting
2
in an election for an elective office are permitted to indicate and order their
3
preferences for all candidates whose names appear on the ballot for the same office
4
or seat.
AB516,4,17
5
(2)
Except as provided in ss. 8.05 (1) (L) and 9.10 (3) (d) and (e) and (4) (f), the
6
governing body of a local governmental unit may enact an ordinance or adopt a
7
resolution to use ranked-choice voting for all elective offices to be filled in the local
8
governmental unit. A governing body that enacts an ordinance or adopts a
9
resolution to use ranked-choice voting shall notify the commission that it has taken
10
such action no later than 120 days prior to the first election at which it intends to
11
use ranked-choice voting. No governing body that adopts ranked-choice voting shall
12
hold primaries for elective offices to be filled in the local governmental unit. A
13
governing body that adopts ranked-choice voting shall use ranked-choice voting for
14
all elective offices to be filled in the local governmental unit until such time as the
15
ordinance or resolution is repealed. A governing body shall notify the commission of
16
such a repeal no later than 120 days prior to the first election at which ranked-
17
choice voting will no longer be used.
AB516,5,3
18
(3)
An elector may rank as many preferences for each office as there are
19
candidates for the office whose names appear on the ballot. If more than one seat
20
on a governing body is to be filled at large, the procedure under s. 7.62 (3) applies.
21
If write-in votes are permitted, an elector may vote for a write-in candidate in
22
addition to any candidate whose name appears on the ballot. To indicate a
23
preference, an elector shall mark his or her ballot with or cause the voting machine
1
to indicate the elector’s 1st choice, 2nd choice, and 3rd choice and subsequent
2
choices, if any. An elector is not required to indicate a choice and is not required to
3
indicate as many choices as the elector is eligible to indicate.
AB516,6
4
Section
6
.
6.80 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB516,5,16
5
6.80
(2)
(g) In elections for offices or seats on a governing body at which
6
ranked-choice voting under s. 5.20 is used, an elector may rank as many preferences
7
for each office or seat as there are candidates whose names appear on the ballot for
8
that office or seat. If more than one office or one seat on a governing body is to be
9
filled at large, an elector may rank as many preferences for that office or seat as
10
there are candidates whose names appear on the ballot for all of the offices or seats
11
to be filled. If write-in votes are permitted, an elector may vote for a write-in
12
candidate in addition to any candidate whose name appears on the ballot. An
13
elector who indicates preferences for candidates for an office or seat shall indicate a
14
different preference for each candidate for that office or seat. If an elector casts
15
more than one vote for any office or seat without indicating preferences, the
16
elector’s intent shall be determined as provided under s. 7.62 (4).
AB516,7
17
Section
7
.
7.08 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,5,22
18
7.08
(1)
(c) Prescribe forms required by ss. 6.24 (3) and (4), 6.30 (4) and (5),
19
6.33 (1), 6.47 (1) (am) 2. and (3), 6.55 (2),
and
6.86 (2) to (3)
, and 7.62 (1m)
. All such
20
forms shall contain a statement of the penalty applicable to false or fraudulent
21
registration or voting through use of the form. Forms are not required to be
22
furnished by the commission.
AB516,8
23
Section
8
.
7.50 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,6,7
1
7.50
(1)
(b) When an elector casts more votes for any office or measure than he
2
or she is entitled to cast at an election, all the elector’s votes for that office or
3
measure are invalid and the elector is deemed to have voted for none of them, except
4
as provided in par. (c) and sub. (2) (d)
and s. 7.62
. If an elector casts less votes for
5
any office or measure than he or she is entitled to cast at an election, all votes cast
6
by the elector shall be counted but no vote shall be counted more than once
, except
7
as provided in s. 7.62
.
AB516,9
8
Section
9
.
7.50 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,6,11
9
7.50
(1)
(c) If an elector casts more than one vote for the same candidate for
10
the same office, the first vote is valid and the remaining votes are invalid
, except as
11
provided in s. 7.62
.
AB516,10
12
Section
10
.
7.50 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,6,18
13
7.50
(2)
Ascertainment of intent.
(intro.) All ballots cast at an election
14
which bear the initials of 2 inspectors shall be counted for the person or referendum
15
question for whom or for which they were intended, so far as the electors’ intent can
16
be ascertained from the ballots notwithstanding informality or failure to fully
17
comply with other provisions of chs. 5 to 12.
To
Except as otherwise provided under
18
s. 7.62, to
determine intent:
AB516,11
19
Section
11
.
7.51 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,7,14
20
7.51
(4)
(a) The tally sheets shall state the total number of votes cast for each
21
office and for each individual receiving votes for that office, whether or not the
22
individual’s name appears on the ballot, and shall state the vote for and against
23
each proposition voted on.
For elections conducted under s. 5.20, the tally sheets
1
shall also, for each round of tabulation, state the total number of highest-ranked
2
preferences received by each candidate and the total number of lesser-ranked
3
preferences received by each candidate, indicating the total number for each
4
preference.
Upon completion of the tally sheets, the inspectors shall immediately
5
complete the inspectors’ statement. The inspectors shall state the excess, if any, by
6
which the number of ballots exceeds the number of electors voting as shown by the
7
poll list and shall state the number of the last elector as shown by the poll lists. At
8
least 3 inspectors, including the chief inspector and, unless election officials are
9
appointed under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without regard to party affiliation, at least one
10
inspector representing each political party, but not including any inspector
11
appointed under s. 7.30 (1) (b), shall then certify to the correctness of the statement
12
and tally sheets and sign their names. All other election officials assisting with the
13
tally shall also certify to the correctness of the tally sheets. When the tally is
14
complete, the inspectors shall publicly announce the results from the statement.
AB516,12
15
Section
12
.
7.51 (5) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,7,21
16
7.51
(5)
(a) 3. The inspectors shall also seal the inspectors’ statement, inside
17
a separate carrier envelope, and shall similarly seal in a separate carrier envelope
18
one tally sheet and one poll list for delivery to the municipal clerk.
For elections
19
conducted under s. 5.20, the inspectors shall enclose the tally sheet provided under
20
s. 7.62 (1m).
For school district elections, except in 1st class cities, the inspectors
21
shall seal one tally sheet and one poll list for delivery to the school district clerk.
AB516,13
22
Section
13
.
7.53 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,9,10
23
7.53
(1)
(a) Where the municipality constitutes one ward or combines all
1
wards to utilize a single polling place under s. 5.15 (6) (b), the canvass of the votes
2
cast at the polling place shall be conducted publicly under s. 7.51 and the
3
inspectors, other than any inspector appointed under s. 7.30 (1) (b), shall act as the
4
municipal board of canvassers. The inspectors shall then complete the return
5
statement for all votes cast at the polling place. If there are no provisional ballots
6
that are eligible to be counted under s. 6.97 and no absentee ballots are being
7
canvassed under s. 7.52, the inspectors may complete and sign the canvass
8
statement and determination on election night. In municipalities where absentee
9
ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, after the canvass of the absentee ballots is
10
completed under s. 7.52, the board of absentee ballot canvassers shall reconcile the
11
poll list of the electors who vote by absentee ballot with the corresponding poll list of
12
the electors who vote in person to ensure that no elector is allowed to cast more than
13
one ballot. If an elector who votes in person has submitted an absentee ballot, the
14
absentee ballot is void. Except as authorized in par. (b), if one or more electors of
15
the municipality have cast provisional ballots that are eligible to be counted under
16
s. 6.97, the inspectors, acting as the board of canvassers, shall reconvene no later
17
than 9 a.m. on the Monday after the election to count the valid provisional ballots
18
and shall adjust the returns accordingly. The inspectors, acting as the board of
19
canvassers, need not reconvene if the municipal clerk certifies that he or she has
20
received no provisional ballots from the time that the board of canvassers completed
21
the initial canvass and 4 p.m. on the Friday after the election. Upon completion of
22
the canvass under this paragraph and any canvass that is conducted under s. 7.52
23
or 7.62
and ascertainment of the results by the inspectors or, in municipalities
1
where absentee ballots are canvassed under s. 7.52, by the inspectors and the board
2
of absentee ballot canvassers, the municipal clerk shall publicly read to the
3
inspectors or the board of absentee ballot canvassers the names of the persons voted
4
for and the number of votes for each person for each municipal office
,
; for elections
5
conducted under s. 5.20, the number of highest-ranked preferences and the number
6
of lesser-ranked preferences for each person for each office, indicating the numbers
7
for each preference;
the names of the persons declared by the inspectors or board of
8
absentee ballot canvassers to have won nomination or election to each municipal
9
office
,
;
and the number of votes cast for and against each municipal referendum
10
question.
AB516,14
11
Section
14
.
7.60 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB516,9,23
12
7.60
(4)
(a) The board of canvassers shall make separate duplicate statements
13
showing the numbers of votes cast for the offices of president and vice president;
14
state officials; U.S. senators and representatives in congress; state legislators;
15
justice; court of appeals judge; circuit judges; district attorneys; and metropolitan
16
sewerage commissioners, if the commissioners are elected under s. 200.09 (11) (am).
17
If a municipal judge elected under s. 755.01 (4) serves a municipality that is located
18
partially within the county and candidates for that judgeship file nomination
19
papers in another county, the board of canvassers shall prepare a duplicate
20
statement showing the numbers of votes cast for that judgeship in that county for
21
transmittal to the other county. For partisan candidates, the statements shall
22
include the political party or principle designation, if any, next to the name of each
23
candidate. The board of canvassers shall also prepare a statement showing the
1
results of any county, technical college district, or statewide referendum. Each
2
statement shall state the total number of votes cast in the county for each office; the
3
names of all persons for whom the votes were cast, as returned; the number of votes
4
cast for each person;
for elections conducted under s. 5.20, the number of highest-
5
ranked preferences and lesser-ranked preferences cast for each person, indicating
6
the numbers for each preference;
and the number of votes cast for and against any
7
question submitted at a referendum. The board of canvassers shall use one copy of
8
each duplicate statement to report to the elections commission, technical college
9
district board, or board of canvassers of any other county and shall file the other
10
statement in the office of the county clerk or board of election commissioners.
AB516,15
11
Section
15
.
7.60 (4) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 7.60 (4) (c) (intro.) and
12
amended to read:
AB516,10,19
13
7.60
(4)
(c) (intro.) In preparing the statements and determinations, the board
14
of canvassers shall carefully review the tally sheets and inspectors’ statement. The
15
board of canvassers may omit the names of individuals whose names do not appear
16
on the ballot and who receive a comparatively small number of votes. The board of
17
canvassers shall designate votes received by such individuals as scattering votes.
18
The board of canvassers shall append
the following
to each statement and
19
determination
a
:
AB516,10,22
20
1. A
tabulation of the votes cast at each election district, ward
,
or combination
21
of wards authorized under s. 5.15 (6) (b) in the county for each office and each
22
individual, whether the votes are canvassed or not
, as well as the
.
AB516,11,2
23
2. The
total canvassed votes cast for each individual and each office, except
1
where scattering votes are designated.
If any votes are rejected, the board of
2
canvassers shall specify the reasons therefor.
AB516,16
3
Section
16
.
7.60 (4) (c) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB516,11,6
4
7.60
(4)
(c) 3. After elections at which ranked-choice voting under s. 5.20 is
5
used, the number of highest-ranked preferences and lesser-ranked preferences for
6
each person for each office, indicating the numbers for each preference.
AB516,17
7
Section
17
.
7.60 (4) (c) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB516,11,9
8
7.60
(4)
(c) 4. For each rejected vote, the explanation by the board of
9
canvassers for rejecting the vote.
AB516,18
10
Section
18
.
7.62 of the statutes is created to read:
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