Bill > AB506

This bill modifies Wisconsin's election laws to allow voters more flexibility when casting ballots in partisan primary elections. Currently, voters are restricted to voting only within a single political party's column, but this legislation would permit electors to vote for candidates across different party columns for various offices. Specifically, the bill enables voters to select candidates from multiple political parties in a single primary election, meaning a voter could choose a Republican candidate for governor, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, and so on. The changes would first take effect in the 2026 partisan primary election and involve numerous technical amendments to existing election statutes, such as modifying ballot formatting requirements, updating language around party designations, and removing restrictions on cross-party voting. The bill aims to give voters more choice and reduce party-line voting constraints, while maintaining the fundamental rule that a voter may still only vote for one candidate per office. The legislation makes conforming changes to various sections of Wisconsin's election code to implement this new voting approach, including adjustments to ballot design, voting machine testing procedures, and candidate nomination processes.

Government Affairs

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/asm/bill/ab506