WisconsinWisconsin voters would rank candidates in most elections
If adopted, the proposal would have voters rank candidates in most elections and have officials count later choices when no one wins a majority of first choices.
What it does
Voters could rank candidates in covered elections. If no candidate gets a majority of first choices, officials would count later choices in rounds until a candidate wins a majority.
The Elections Commission could make grants to counties and municipalities for equipment and software used to run and count ranked-choice elections.
Argument forVoters could rank several candidates, and later choices could count if no one wins a majority at first, giving more voters a say in the final result.
Argument againstCounting ranked choices in repeated rounds could make results harder for voters to follow and for election officials to explain.
More detail
The proposal would use ranked-choice voting in covered elections. The rules cover federal, state, and local elections, with exceptions; some primaries would still be held under different rules. Voters could rank fewer candidates than appear on the ballot, or leave their choices blank. The bill lists exceptions, including some primary elections and recall elections.
The proposal would let the Elections Commission make grants to counties and municipalities for election equipment and software. Counties and municipalities could receive grants for equipment and software used to administer ranked-choice voting. Grants could pay for updates, including secure technology, used to run ranked-choice voting and count ballots. The proposal does not state a grant amount or guarantee that a local government would receive a grant.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 13Fiscal estimate receivedLatest
- Mar 23Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1Major
- Mar 19Read first time and referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Mar 19Introduced by Senators Spreitzer, Pfaff, Larson, Dassler-Alfheim and Roys; cosponsored by Representatives Anderson, Brown, Clancy, Emerson, Hong, Moore Omokunde, Rivera-Wagner, Sheehan, Sinicki, Subeck, Stroud, Stubbs, Tenorio, Udell and PalmeriIntroduced
Civil Rights & Voting