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Laws governing local ballot measures in Wisconsin
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This page describes the state constitutional provisions and statutes that govern local ballot measures in Wisconsin. Jurisdictions often establish additional rules within the parameters of state law; those can be found in local ordinances and home-rule charters.
Explore the links below for more information:
- Laws addressing local ballot measure powers in Wisconsin
- General requirements for local ballot measures
- Rules for citizen-initiated local ballot measures
- Rules for referred local ballot measures
Law
The Wisconsin Constitution and Wisconsin Statutes establish the rules that govern local ballot measures in the state.
- Constitution: Article XI, Section 3
- Statutes: Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 66, Subchapter I, Section 66.0101 and Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 9, Section 9.20
General
The following outlines the general rules that govern local ballot measures in Wisconsin, including both citizen-initiated measures and referred measures from local government bodies.
- Election timing: In Wisconsin, election timing differs depending on how the measure was placed on the ballot:
- Initiatives:
- Initiated ordinances are indirect, which means a city or village government can pass an initiative without alteration or send it to voters within a 30-day review period. If an initiative acquires signatures equal to at least 15% of the votes cast for governor during the last general election in the city or village; the local government does not pass it; and the next election is more than 70 days away after either the local government makes a decision or the review period ends, the initiative will be placed on the ballot in the next spring or general election. If the next election is fewer than 70 days away, the initiative will be placed on the ballot during the election after it. Alternatively, the local government, by a three-fourths vote, can order a special election to decide the initiative.[1]
- Charter ordinances enact, amend, or repeal any part of a local charter. If a city or village passes a charter ordinance, it does not take effect until 60 days after its passage and publication, during which it is subject to an initiated referendum. If an initiative acquires signatures equal to at least 7% of the votes cast in the city or village for governor in the last general election within the 60-day period, the ordinance is placed on the ballot using the same guidelines as initiated ordinances.[2]
- Referrals:
- Initiatives:
- Vote requirements: All local ballot measures in Wisconsin require a simple majority vote to be approved.[2][1]
- Required ballot measures:
- Article XIII of the Wisconsin Constitution requires voter-approved ballot measures, whether citizen-initiated or referred, for the following:
- Dividing or removing parts of a county.
- Removing county seats.
- The Wisconsin Statutes require voter-approved ballot measures for the following:[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
- Exceeding the property tax rate limit.
- Increasing the salaries for county board supervisors in counties with at least 750,000 residents.
- Consolidating counties.
- Relocating county seats.
- Changing the number of county board supervisors.
- Creating or abolishing the office of county executive in counties with a population of less than 750,000 residents.
- Establishing a county fair.
- Annexation of a city or village.
- Incorporation of a municipality.
- Article XIII of the Wisconsin Constitution requires voter-approved ballot measures, whether citizen-initiated or referred, for the following:
Initiatives
The following outlines the general rules that govern local citizen-initiated ballot measures in Wisconsin.
- Authority: Chapter 9, Section 9.20 and Chapter 66, Section 66.0101 of the Wisconsin Statutes grant voters the ability to initiate petitions and charter ordinances, respectively.[1][2]
- Signatures:
- Initiated ordinances require signatures equal to 15% of the votes cast in the locality for governor during the last general election to be placed on the ballot.[1]
- Charter ordinances require 7% of the votes cast in the locality for governor during the last general election to be placed on the ballot.[2]
- Deadline: For both initiated and charter ordinances, signatures must be gathered within 60 days prior to filing. For both initiated and charter ordinances, the local government has 30 days to pass the initiative, place it on the ballot at the next spring or general election, or call for a special election for it.[1][2]
Referrals
The following outlines the general rules that govern local referred ballot measures in Wisconsin.
- Authority:
- Chapter 66, Subchapter I, Section 66.0101 of the Wisconsin Statutes grants local legislative bodies the authority to submit charter ordinances to voters for approval. [2]
- Chapter 59, Subchapter V, Section 52(25) of the Wisconsin Statutes grants local legislative bodies the authority to submit countywide advisory referendums to ratify a resolution or ordinance enacted by the board contingent upon voter approval in the referendum.[13]
- Deadline: Charter ordinances put on the ballot by a local legislative body must also be referred to the ballot at least 70 days before the next election.[2]
Laws governing local ballot measures in the U.S.
Laws governing local ballot measures in the United States
As state laws govern ballot measures, the rules are different from state to state. Click on a state below to explore that state's laws on local ballot measures.
See also
- Laws governing local ballot measures
- Laws governing local ballot measures in Wisconsin
- Local ballot measures, Wisconsin
- Counties in Wisconsin
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 9, Section 9.20," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 66, Subchapter I, Section 66.0101," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter V, Section 25," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter VI, Section 3
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter III, Section 2," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter II, Section 8
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter II, Section 5," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter III, Section 10
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter IV, Section 17
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter V, Section 56," accessed November 13, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 66, Subchapter II, Section 0217," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 66, Subchapter II, Section 0211," accessed December 19, 2025
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 59, Subchapter V, Section 52(25)," accessed December 19, 2025
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