Senate Bill 361 proposes significant changes to the voting process in Wisconsin's partisan primary elections by allowing voters to split their tickets, enabling them to select candidates from multiple parties for different offices, including the governor and lieutenant governor, while still voting for independent candidates. This change aims to enhance voter choice and flexibility, with implementation set for the 2026 partisan primary. The bill also includes various amendments and repeals of existing statutes, such as the repeal of sections that previously restricted voting options and amendments to the definition of a recognized political party and ballot arrangements to accommodate the new voting structure.

Additionally, the bill introduces new requirements for proof of residence for certain voters and stipulates that if a ballot is requested via fax or email, a signed copy of the request must be included in the return envelope. It clarifies that returning multiple marked ballots in a primary will invalidate all votes cast by that elector and amends the process for submitting candidate nominations for president and vice president. Notably, it specifies that write-in votes in partisan primaries will not be counted if written in a different column or row from where the candidate's name appears, while also removing certain provisions regarding party ballots and ensuring that candidates receiving the most votes in a primary will be the official candidates for the upcoming election.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 5.02(16m), 5.02, 5.35(6)(b), 5.35, 5.51(7), 5.51, 5.62(1), 5.62, 5.62(2), 5.62(3), 5.655(1), 5.655, 5.81(4), 5.81, 5.84(1), 5.84, 5.91(1), 5.91, 5.91(3), 5.91(6), 6.80(2)(am), 6.80, 6.80(2)(f), 6.87(4)(b)1, 6.87, 7.08(2)(b), 7.08, 7.50(1)(d), 7.50, 7.50(2)(g), 8.16(1), 8.16, 8.16(6), 8.16(7)