Senate Bill 594 introduces ranked-choice voting for local nonpartisan elections in Wisconsin, allowing counties, cities, and school districts to adopt this method through an ordinance or resolution. Voters will rank candidates by preference, and if no candidate secures a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated, redistributing their votes based on the next preferences until a majority is achieved. The bill also eliminates primary elections for offices utilizing ranked-choice voting and requires local governing bodies to notify the Elections Commission of their decision to adopt this system at least 120 days before the election.

The bill amends existing election laws to accommodate ranked-choice voting, including provisions for the Elections Commission to update voting equipment and software. It mandates detailed tabulation and reporting of votes, requiring a breakdown of votes cast in each election district and the total canvassed votes for each candidate, while removing the previous requirement for the board of canvassers to specify reasons for rejected votes. Additionally, it establishes new reporting requirements for ranked-choice voting results, including the number of highest-ranked and lesser-ranked preferences for each candidate and explanations for any rejected votes, thereby enhancing transparency in the electoral 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