7.38 Vacancies after nomination. (1) Except as provided in sub. (4), after the death of a candidate nominated for a partisan office, either in a primary or when no primary is required under s. 8.50 (3) (b), the vacancy may be filled by the candidate’s political party. In the case of county offices, the vacancy shall be filled by the chairperson of the county committee. If no county committee exists, the vacancy shall be filled by the chairperson of the state committee. For other offices, the vacancy shall be filled by the chairperson of the state committee. The appropriate chairperson shall file with the official or agency with whom nomination papers are filed for the office a certificate signed, certified and sworn to the same as an original nomination paper. The certificate shall state the cause of the vacancy, the name of the new nominee and the office for which the nomination is made. A political party may not nominate a candidate for an office for which
May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26)
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Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats.
ELECTION OFFICIALS; DUTIES; CANVASSING
7.50
no person representing that party has filed nomination papers and a declaration of candidacy. (2) The certificate shall be filed within 4 days of the date of notification of the vacancy and shall have the same effect as original nomination papers. (3) If the vacancy occurs after ballots have been printed in any county or municipality, the chairperson of the committee filling the vacancy shall supply the municipal clerk with stickers containing the name of the new nominee only. The stickers may be no larger than the space provided on the ballot for the original candidate’s name and office. (4) There can be no vacancy in nomination prior to a party primary, except when no primary is required under s. 8.50 (3) (b). (5) In the event of failure to file the name of a current state chairperson, as required under s. 8.17 (12), the commission may not recognize the state committee for the purpose of filling vacancies under sub. (1).
the confidential portion of a registration list maintained under s. 6.36 (4) or a poll list maintained under s. 6.79 (6). However, the inspectors or municipal clerk shall disclose to such an individual, upon request, the existence of such a list, the number of electors whose names appear on the list, and the number of those electors who have voted at any point in the proceedings. No such individual may view the certificate of an absent elector who obtains a confidential listing under s. 6.47 (2). (5) The commission shall promulgate rules that are consistent with the requirements of sub. (2) regarding the proper conduct of individuals exercising the right under sub. (1), including the interaction of those individuals with inspectors and other election officials.
History: 1971 c. 304 s. 29 (2); 1973 c. 334; 1975 c. 93, 200; 1977 c. 340, 427; 1979 c. 311; 1983 a. 484; 1985 a. 304; 1987 a. 391; 1993 a. 184; 1999 a. 182; 2015 a. 118 s. 266 (10).
CANVASS OF RETURNS AND CERTIFICATION