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County Clerk, Register of Deeds, and Treasurer
Required Forms
The forms listed below must be completed and filed on time by a candidate for a county office in order for their name to be placed on the ballot. The filing officer is the County Clerk.
Campaign Registration Statement (CF-1)
This form should be filed with the County Clerk’s Office prior to announcing your candidacy for office, or no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers (June 1, 2024).
New candidates should file a campaign registration statement as soon as the intent to seek elective office is known and before funds are collected or spent. See State Statute 11.05(2g) and 11.10(1).
Continuing candidates must file an amended campaign registration statement indicating the office sought and the election date. The initial campaign registration statement must be signed by both the candidate and the campaign treasurer, if a treasurer has been appointed.
Contribution Limits for Local Elected Officials
Campaign Finance Recording Schedule
Declaration of Candidacy (EL-162)
The declaration of candidacy must be filed with the County Clerk’s Office no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers (June 1, 2024). It must include the candidate’s name exactly how it should appear on the official ballot. A candidate may use their full legal name or any combination of first name, middle name, initials, or nickname with last name. No abbreviations or titles are permitted.
Nicknames with an apparent electoral purpose or benefit, such as "Lower Taxes," "None of the Above" or "Lower Spending" are not permitted. A nickname is a substitute for the candidate’s legal name. It is not permissible to add the nickname in quotes or parentheses between the first and last name. For example, John “Jack” Jones is not acceptable, but Jack Jones is acceptable.
Statement of Economic Interest
Due no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers (June 1, 2024).
Nomination Papers for Partisan Office (EL-168)
The first day for circulating nomination papers is April 15, 2024, and the deadline for filing nomination papers is 5:00 pm on the on June 1, 2024.
Signatures of qualified electors on nomination papers must be obtained between April 15, 2024, and 5:00 pm on June 1, 2024. Please pay careful attention to the signatures you obtain on your nomination papers. All electors signing your nomination papers must live within the district in which you are running (you can check the address at myvote.wi.gov). Those signing do not need to be registered voters; however, they must be eligible to vote. It is to your advantage to check that the addresses on your nomination papers are from the district you are running to represent. Signatures for addresses outside of that district are invalid and will not be counted.
Signers must give their complete address (house number, street and municipality – no Post Office boxes), and must list the municipality of residence. Signers must date their signature, including the year. In order for a signature to be valid, state law requires the signer to legibly print their name in a space provided next to their signature.
Although the person signing the nomination papers must reside within the district, the person circulating the nomination papers does not need to live in the district or municipality. Circulators are only required to be U.S. citizens, age 18 or older on the date of circulation, and not otherwise disqualified as an elector by the provisions in State Statute 6.03. The circulator must certify the nomination papers after obtaining the signatures. Signatures dated after the date listed by the circulator are invalid and will not be counted. Nomination papers must be numbered. Signatures for addresses outside of that district are invalid and will not be counted.
When filing nomination papers with the County Clerk, the clerk's staff will count the number of pages and signatures submitted and will give you a receipt. The nomination papers will be reviewed for validity by one of the clerk's staff. Then the Clerk will review and certify the valid signatures. Nomination paper will be reviewed in the order they are submitted to the office. The benefit of submitting your nomination papers prior to the filing deadline allows the Clerk time to contact you if your nomination papers are not sufficient for ballot access.
After the deadline, candidates’ names will be drawn by lot for the order of placement on the ballot.
If a potential candidate does not submit all necessary forms and an adequate number of valid nomination signatures by 5:00 pm on June 1, 2024, their name will not be placed on the ballot.
Additional Information
Notice of Noncandidacy (EL-163)
The notification of non-candidacy form is to notify the County Clerk’s Office and the electorate of an incumbent officeholder’s intent to not seek re-election to the same office. Incumbent office holders who do not intend to seek re-election to the same office should file the notification of non-candidacy no later than 5:00 pm on May 24, 2024. If an incumbent not seeking re-election files the notification timely, the nomination paper deadline is unchanged. If the incumbent has a change of mind after filing the notification of non-candidacy, they can run for re-election by filing the appropriate ballot access papers by June 1, 2024.