AB911: Bill Text

LRB-4034/3

JTK:kjf&wlj:pg

2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE

2003 Assembly BILL 911

February 26, 2004 - Introduced by Representatives Gottlieb, J. Wood, Pocan, Miller and Berceau, cosponsored by Senator Reynolds. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AB911,1,7 An Act to amend 5.01 (3) (a), 5.58 (3), 7.08 (1) (c), 7.50 (1) (c), 7.51 (4) (a), 7.51 (5) (a), 7.53 (1), 7.60 (4) (a), 7.60 (4) (c), 8.05 (3) (a), 8.05 (4) (a), 8.11 (1) (a) to (c), 8.11 (2), (2m) and (5), 8.50 (3) (b), 9.10 (3) (d) and 10.02 (3) (intro.); and to create 5.01 (3) (c), 5.01 (4) (e), 5.20, 5.40 (5s), 5.60 (6s), 6.80 (2) (g), 7.50 (2) (k), 7.52, 8.05 (1) (L), 8.11 (6) and 10.02 (4) of the statutes; relating to: use of preferential voting to determine the results of elections for nonpartisan local offices and granting rule-making authority.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Currently, a voter at a primary or other election for a county, municipal, or other local nonpartisan office may cast one vote for a candidate for each office or seat that appears on the ballot. If a primary is required, a voter may select the candidate of his or her choice for each office or seat that appears on the ballot and the names of the two candidates for that office or seat who receive the greatest numbers of votes then appear on the ballot at the ensuing election. Generally, a primary election is required to be held whenever there are more than two candidates who qualify to have their names appear on the ballot for a nonpartisan office or seat or, whenever more than one seat is to be filled on a governmental body at the same election, if there are more than twice as many candidates for seats as there are seats to be filled from a given jurisdiction or district. A primary is not held in elections for town or village offices in a town or village where a caucus is used to nominate candidates for town or village offices.

This bill permits the governing body of each municipality, except a town or village where a caucus is used, and certain other local governmental units, to adopt a preferential voting method (also called an "instant runoff" method) for the election of nonpartisan officers. Under the bill, a local governmental unit other than a municipality may use the preferential voting method for the election of its officers only if all of the municipalities having territory within the jurisdiction of the local governmental unit are using or agree to utilize an electronic voting system to conduct the election. Under the preferential voting method, whenever there are three or more candidates for an office or seat to be filled at an election, each voter may cast as many votes for each office or seat as there are candidates whose names appear on the ballot for that office or seat. If the voter votes 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 subsequent choices in sequential preference. A voter may also vote 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 does not indicate a preference is considered to have cast a "first-choice" vote for that candidate. If any candidate receives a majority of the first-choice or no-choice votes cast for the office or seat, that candidate is elected. If no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice and no-choice votes cast for an office or seat, the name of the candidate receiving the least number of first-choice votes is dropped and the second-choice votes of the voters who voted for that candidate, if any, are then added to the first-choice votes received by the other candidates. In addition, the third-choice votes of the voters who voted for that candidate, if any, are then added to the second-choice votes received by the other candidates. Additional choices of those voters are allocated to the other candidates in a similar manner. If any candidate for the office or seat then has a majority of the combined first-choice and reallocated second-choice votes cast, that candidate is elected. If not, the procedure is repeated until one candidate receives a majority of the combined first-choice and reallocated votes cast. If this voting method is used, no primary election is held. Once adopted, the preferential voting method must be used in all nonpartisan elections of the local governmental unit, but the local governmental unit may discontinue use of the system upon 90 days' notice to affected municipalities. The procedure does not apply at recall elections for nonpartisan county offices.

Currently, municipalities having a population of 7,500 or more must use voting machines or an electronic voting system at every election. This bill requires any local governmental unit that elects to use the preferential voting method for the election of its nonpartisan officers to ensure that an electronic voting system is used in every municipality that lies wholly or partially within the jurisdiction of the local governmental unit at every election where this method of voting is used. If a municipality which lies within the jurisdiction of a local governmental unit does not utilize an electronic voting system, the local governmental unit must obtain the concurrence of that municipality to acquire the system before an election using the preferential voting method may be held.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB911, s. 1 Section 1. 5.01 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB911,3,5 5.01 (3) (a) Except as provided in par. pars. (b) and (c), in every election to choose any officer, each elector has one vote for each office unless clearly indicated otherwise. The person receiving the greatest number of legal votes for the office shall be declared elected, and the canvassers shall so determine and certify.

AB911, s. 2 Section 2. 5.01 (3) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,3,10 5.01 (3) (c) In every election for a local office in which the preferential voting method is used, any person who receives a majority of the first-choice votes shall be declared elected, and if no person receives a majority of first-choice votes, the election shall be determined in accordance with s. 7.52.

AB911, s. 3 Section 3. 5.01 (4) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,3,16 5.01 (4) (e) This subsection applies to elections at which the preferential voting method is used to break ties between candidates for an office or seat who receive the same number of votes of specified choice, but does not apply at such elections if more than one candidate for an office or seat receives the same number of lowest choice votes.

AB911, s. 4 Section 4. 5.20 of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,3,18 5.20 Preferential voting method. (1) In this section:

AB911,3,20 (a) "Local governmental unit" means a county, city, village, town, or special purpose district.

AB911,4,4 (b) "Preferential voting" means a voting method in which the electors voting in an election for an elective office are permitted to express and order their preferences for all candidates whose names appear on the ballot for the same office or seat.

AB911,4,14 (2) Except as provided in ss. 5.40 (5s), 8.05 (1) (L) and 9.10 (3) (d), the policy-making body of any local governmental unit that is served by elective officers may adopt preferential voting as the method of voting and determination of the results of all elections for nonpartisan offices to be filled in the local governmental unit. If the preferential voting method is to be used in elections for the office of municipal judge of a joint municipal court under s. 755.01 (4), the governing body of each contracting municipality shall act under this subsection. A body may act under this subsection by ordinance, or if the body does not enact ordinances, by resolution adopted at a meeting of the body. A policy-making body that has adopted preferential voting under this subsection may revoke that action in like manner.

AB911,4,17 (3) Action of a body under sub. (2) is effective for all elections held for the election of nonpartisan officers of a local governmental unit on and after the 120th day beginning after the action is taken, except as provided in sub. (7).

AB911,5,4 (4) In jurisdictions where preferential voting is used, an elector may cast as many preferential votes for each office as there are candidates for the office whose names appear on the ballot. If more than one seat on a policy-making body is to be filled at large, an elector may cast one vote for each seat that is contested multiplied by the number of candidates and, in addition, may cast as many preferential votes for the seats to be filled as there are candidates for those seats whose names appear on the ballot. If write-in votes are permitted, a voter may vote for a write-in candidate in lieu of any candidate whose name appears on the ballot. To indicate a preference, an elector shall mark his or her ballot with or cause the voting machine to reflect the elector's first choice, second choice, third choice, and subsequent choices, if any. An elector is not required to indicate a choice and is not required to indicate as many choices as the elector is eligible to indicate.

AB911,5,11 (5) The preferential voting method may not be used for balloting or canvassing within any ward or election district in which an election for an office is held unless it is used for balloting and canvassing within all wards and election districts in which that election is held. A preferential voting method may not be used in balloting or canvassing of votes for any nonpartisan office of a governmental unit to be filled at an election unless it is used in balloting and canvassing of votes for all of the nonpartisan offices of the governmental unit to be filled at that election.

AB911,5,13 (6) In tallying votes in elections where preferential voting is used, the method of canvassing specified in s. 7.52 shall be used.

AB911,5,20 (7) Whenever the policy-making body of a governmental unit adopts or discontinues the preferential voting method to determine the election of the elective nonpartisan officers of the governmental unit, the body shall promptly provide written notice of its action to the municipal clerk of each municipality other than the governmental unit that lies wholly or partially within the jurisdiction of the governmental unit. The body shall provide the notice no later than the 120th day preceding any election at which the preferential voting method is to be used.

AB911, s. 5 Section 5. 5.40 (5s) of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,6,9 5.40 (5s) Any municipality that elects under s. 5.20 to utilize the preferential voting method to determine the results of its elections for nonpartisan officers of the local governmental unit shall ensure that an electronic voting system is used for those elections at every polling place in the municipality. A local governmental unit, other than a municipality, that elects under s. 5.20 to utilize the preferential voting method to determine the results of its elections for nonpartisan offices of the local governmental unit may utilize the preferential voting method only if all the municipalities having territory within the jurisdiction of the local governmental unit are utilizing an electronic voting system on the date of that election or the local governmental unit obtains a written agreement with every such municipality that does not utilize an electronic voting system on that date, signed by the municipal clerk on behalf of the municipality, that the municipality will acquire an electronic voting system approved under s. 5.91 to be utilized in those elections.

AB911, s. 6 Section 6. 5.58 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB911,7,2 5.58 (3) Names on spring ballot. Only Except in elections at which the preferential voting method is used, only 2 candidates for state superintendent, for any judicial office, for any elected seat on a metropolitan sewerage commission or town sanitary district commission, in counties having a population of 500,000 or more only 2 candidates for member of the board of supervisors within each district, in counties having a population of less than 500,000 only 2 candidates for each member of the county board of supervisors from each district or numbered seat or only 4 candidates for each 2 members of the county board of supervisors from each district whenever 2 supervisors are elected to unnumbered seats from the same district, in 1st class cities only 2 candidates for any at-large seat and only 2 candidates from any election district to be elected to the board of school directors, in school districts electing school board members to numbered seats, or pursuant to an apportionment plan or district representation plan, only 2 school board candidates for each numbered seat or within each district, and twice as many candidates as are to be elected members of other school boards or other elective officers receiving the highest number of votes at the primary shall be nominees for the office at the spring election. Only their names shall appear on the official spring ballot.

AB911, s. 7 Section 7. 5.60 (6s) of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,7,6 5.60 (6s) Preferential voting method. If the preferential voting method is used in an election for local office, the form of the ballot shall conform to the requirements of s. 5.20 (4).

AB911, s. 8 Section 8. 6.80 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,7,17 6.80 (2) (g) In elections for offices at which the preferential voting method is used, an elector may cast as many preferential votes for each office or seat as there are candidates whose names appear on the ballot for that office or seat. If more than one seat on a governmental body is to be filled at large, an elector may cast as many preferential votes for that office or seat as there are candidates whose names appear on the ballot for all of the seats to be filled. An elector who indicates preferences for candidates for an office or seat must indicate a different preference for each candidate for that office or seat. If an elector does not indicate a preference between candidates for an office or seat, the elector has one vote for each office or seat to be filled at the election.

AB911, s. 9 Section 9. 7.08 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB911,7,23 7.08 (1) (c) Prescribe forms required by ss. 6.24 (3) and (4), 6.30 (4), 6.33 (1), 6.40 (1) (b), 6.47 (1) (a) 2. and (3), 6.55 (2) and (3), 6.79 (5) and, 6.86 (2) and (3), and 7.52 (1). All such forms shall contain a statement of the penalty applicable to false or fraudulent registration or voting through use of the form. Forms are not required to be furnished by the board.

AB911, s. 10 Section 10. 7.50 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB911,8,3 7.50 (1) (c) If Except in elections at which the preferential voting method is used, if an elector casts more than one vote for the same candidate for the same office, the first vote is valid and the remaining votes are invalid.

AB911, s. 11 Section 11. 7.50 (2) (k) of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,8,13 7.50 (2) (k) In elections at which the preferential voting method is used, if an elector casts no more than one vote for each office or seat for which the elector is entitled to vote, but does not indicate a preference, the elector's votes shall be counted as first choice votes for the candidates receiving the elector's votes. If an elector indicates the same preference for more than one candidate for an office or seat in an election where those expressed preferences exceed the number of offices or seats to be filled, the elector's votes are invalid. If an elector indicates both a preference and no preference for candidates for an office or seat in an election where the elector's votes exceed the number of offices or seats to be filled, the elector's votes are invalid.

AB911, s. 12 Section 12. 7.51 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB911,9,7 7.51 (4) (a) The tally sheets shall state the total number of votes cast for each office and for each individual receiving votes for that office, whether or not the individual's name appears on the ballot, and shall state the vote for and against each proposition voted on. In elections in which the preferential voting method is employed, the tally sheets shall state the total number of first-choice votes received by each candidate and the total number of lesser-choice votes received by each candidate, indicating the total number of votes for each choice. Upon completion of the tally sheets, the inspectors shall immediately complete inspectors' statements in duplicate. The inspectors shall state the excess by which the number of ballots exceeds the number of electors voting as shown by the poll or registration list, if any, and shall state the number of the last elector as shown by the registration or poll lists. At least 3 inspectors, including the chief inspector and, unless election officials are appointed under s. 7.30 (4) (c) without regard to party affiliation, at least one inspector representing each political party, shall then certify to the correctness of the statements and tally sheets and sign their names. All other election officials assisting with the tally shall also certify to the correctness of the tally sheets. When the tally is complete, the inspectors shall publicly announce the results from the statements.

AB911, s. 13 Section 13. 7.51 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB911,9,25 7.51 (5) (a) The inspectors shall make full and accurate return of the votes cast for each candidate and proposition on tally sheet forms provided by the municipal clerk for that purpose. Each tally sheet shall record the returns for each office or referendum by ward, unless combined returns are authorized in accordance with s. 5.15 (6) (b) in which case the tally sheet shall record the returns for each group of combined wards. After recording the votes, the inspectors shall seal in a carrier envelope outside the ballot bag or container one inspectors' statement under sub. (4) (a), one tally sheet, and one poll or registration list for delivery to the county clerk, unless the election relates only to municipal or school district offices or referenda. The inspectors shall also similarly seal one inspectors' statement, one tally sheet, and one poll or registration list for delivery to the municipal clerk. For elections in which the preferential voting method is used, the inspectors shall enclose the tally sheet provided under s. 7.52 (1). For school district elections, except in 1st class cities, the inspectors shall similarly seal one inspectors' statement, one tally sheet, and one poll or registration list for delivery to the school district clerk. The inspectors shall immediately deliver all ballots, statements, tally sheets, lists, and envelopes to the municipal clerk.

AB911, s. 14 Section 14. 7.52 of the statutes is created to read:

AB911,10,4 7.52 Canvass procedure for preferential voting method. In any election in which the preferential voting method is used, the election shall be canvassed in the following manner:

AB911,10,7 (1) The board shall prescribe a tally sheet form for canvassing of elections in which the preferential voting method is used. The inspectors shall use the form in preparing the returns and shall retain the form as a part of the official returns.

AB911,11,5 (2) If any candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes cast for an office or seat, the candidate shall be declared elected. If no candidate for an office or seat receives a majority of the first-choice votes cast, the first-choice votes received by the candidate having the least number of first-choice votes shall be excluded from the tally and the 2nd-choice votes, if any, cast by the electors who voted for that candidate shall be added to the first-choice votes received by the other candidates. If more than one candidate receives the least number of first-choice votes the names of the candidates receiving these votes shall be excluded from the tally and the 2nd-choice votes, if any, cast by electors who voted for those candidates shall be added to the first-choice votes received by the other candidates. The 3rd-choice votes, if any, cast for that candidate shall be added to the 2nd-choice votes received by the other candidates. Additional choice votes, if any, shall be tallied in the same manner. If at an election at which the preferential voting method is used an elector in voting for an office or seat indicates a choice for a lesser preference without also indicating a choice for all greater preferences available to the elector for that office or seat, each lesser preference of the elector for that office or seat shall be counted as a higher preference in the order that the elector's choices are indicated so that all of the preferences of the elector are cast in consecutive order. If any candidate then receives a majority of the first-choice votes cast for an office or seat, the candidate shall be declared elected. If no candidate for an office or seat receives a majority of the first-choice votes cast, the canvassers shall exclude from the tally the first-choice votes received by that candidate and repeat the above procedure until one candidate receives a majority of the first-choice votes cast for the office or seat.