Pending State Legislation Would Prevent Candidates From Being Kicked Off the Ballot Arbitrarily

Friday, September 1st, 2023 -- 10:01 AM

(By Sarah Lehr, Wisconsin Public Radio) Bipartisan backers say pending legislation would prevent candidates from being kicked off the ballot arbitrarily. 

According to Sarah Lehr with Wisconsin Public Radio, to get on the ballot, Wisconsin residents need to submit a certain number of signatures from eligible voters who live in that district.

For statewide office, for instance, Wisconsin law says candidates must submit at least 2,000 valid signatures but may submit up to 4,000. But sponsors of Assembly Bill 330 and its counterpart in the state Senate say clarity in state law is needed.

They cite cases like that of former Milwaukee School Board candidate Shandowlyon Hendricks Reaves, who ended up losing that District 1 race in April 2023. According to state law, candidates need at least 400 valid signatures to be in that race, but they may submit up to 800.

Hendricks Reaves turned in 941 signatures but was disqualified from running after the Milwaukee Election Commission did not find enough valid signatures within the first 800 it reviewed.

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