Instructions for Completing the Declaration of Candidacy
All candidates seeking ballot status for election to any office in the State of Wisconsin must properly complete and
file a Declaration of Candidacy. This form must be ON FILE with the proper filing officer no later than the deadline
for filing nomination papers or the candidate's name will not appear on the ballot. A facsimile will be accepted if the
FAX
copy is received by the filing officer no later than the filing deadline and the signed original declaration is
received by the filing officer with a postmark no later than the filing deadline.
Information to be provided by the candidate:
Type or print your name on the first line.
The title of the office and any district, branch, or seat number for which you are seeking election must be
inserted on the second line. For legislative offices insert the title and district number, for district attorneys
insert the title and the county, for circuit court offices insert the title, county and branch number, and for
municipal and school board offices insert the title and any district or seat number.
Type or print the political party affiliation or principle supported by you in five words or less on the third line.
Nonpartisan candidates may leave this line blank.
Felony convictions: Your name cannot appear on the ballot if you have been convicted of a felony
in any court in the United States for which you have not been pardoned. Please see footnote on page
1 for further information with respect to convictions for misdemeanors involving a violation of public
trust. These restrictions only apply to candidates for state and local office.
Your current address, including your municipality of residence for voting purposes, must be inserted on the
fourth line. This must include your entire mailing address (street and number, municipality where you
receive mail) and the name of the municipality in which you reside and vote (town, village, or city of __).
If your address changes before the election, an amended Declaration of Candidacy must be filed with the filing
officer. Wis. Stat. § 8.21. Federal candidates are not required to provide this information, however an address
for contact purposes is helpful.
Type or print your name on the fifth line as you want it to be printed on the official ballot. You may use your
full legal name, or any combination of first name, middle name, and initials, or nickname with last name.
Note: The Wisconsin Elections Commission has determined that, absent any evidence of an
attempt to manipulate the electoral process, candidates are permitted to choose any form
of their name, including nicknames, by which they want to appear on the ballot.
No titles are permitted. In addition, names such as “Red” or “Skip” are permitted, but
names which have an apparent electoral purpose or benefit, such as “Lower taxes,”
“None of the above” or “Lower Spending” are not permitted. It is also not permissible
to add nicknames in quotes or parentheses. For example, John “Jack” Jones or John
(Jack) Jones are not acceptable, but John Jones, Jack Jones or John Jack Jones are
acceptable.
This form must be sworn to and signed in the presence of a notary public or other person authorized to
administer oaths, such as a county or municipal clerk. Wis. Stat. §§ 8.21(2), 887.01(1).
Information to be provided by the person administering the oath:
The county where the oath was administered.
The date the Declaration of Candidacy was signed and the oath administered.
The signature and title of the person administering the oath. If signed by a notary public, the notary seal is
required and the date the notary’s commission expires must be listed.
All candidates for offices using the nomination paper process and all school district candidates must file this form
with the appropriate filing officer no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers. Wis. Stats. §§ 8.10 (5),
8.15 (4)(b), 8.20 (6), 8.21, 8.50 (3)(a), 120.06 (6)(b).
Candidates nominated for local office at a caucus must file this form with their municipal clerk within 5 days of
receiving notice of nomination. Wis. Stat. § 8.05 (l)(j).
