Assembly Bill 516 proposes the adoption of ranked-choice voting for local nonpartisan elections in Wisconsin, enabling counties, cities, and school districts to implement this voting method through an ordinance or resolution. Under this system, voters rank candidates by preference, and if no candidate secures a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, with their votes redistributed according to the next preferences. The bill also eliminates primary elections for offices utilizing ranked-choice voting. To facilitate this transition, the Elections Commission is authorized to make necessary expenditures for updating voting equipment and software, and the bill introduces new sections to the statutes defining ranked-choice voting and outlining local governmental responsibilities.

Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to address the counting and reporting of votes, including the resolution of ties. It mandates detailed tabulation of votes in each election district, requiring the reporting of both canvassed and non-canvassed votes for each office. Notably, the previous requirement for the board of canvassers to specify reasons for rejected votes has been removed, while new provisions require explanations for each rejected vote. The bill also establishes new reporting requirements for ranked-choice voting results, including the number of highest-ranked and lesser-ranked preferences for each candidate, thereby enhancing transparency in the election process.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 5.01(4)(a), 5.01, 5.01(4)(b), 5.01(4)(c), 7.08(1)(c), 7.08, 7.50(1)(b), 7.50, 7.50(1)(c), 7.50(2)(intro.), 7.51(4)(a), 7.51, 7.51(5)(a)3, 7.53(1)(a), 7.53, 7.60(4)(a), 7.60