How to Run for Local Office
How to Run for Local Office
The Village Board of Trustees consists of a Village President and four Trustees who are at-large and represent the entire village’s population.
The Village President, and two Trustees are elected to two year terms on the first Tuesday in April of even numbered years.
Two Trustees are elected to two year terms on the first Tuesday in April of odd numbered years.
The seats are taken by the newly elected official on the third Tuesday in April.
State Statutes require that individuals seeking election complete the Declaration of Candidacy, Campaign Registration Statement, and Nomination Papers.
These forms are available below, at the Village Clerk’s Office, or online at the Wisconsin Elections Commission website. Explanations are included with the forms and lower on this page.
Individuals interested in running for local office may begin to circulate nomination papers once they have submitted a Campaign Registration Statement to the Village Clerk on or after December 1 of the year preceding the election year. The nomination papers must have not less than 20 and not more than 100 signatures from eligible Village electors.
Pursuant to Wis. Stats., Nomination Papers and Declaration of Candidacy must be completed and submitted by 5:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday in January of the election year. If any of the required forms are not filed by the deadline the candidate’s name will NOT be placed on the ballot.
2022 Ballot Access Checklist
Other Information Available from the Wisconsin Elections Commission
Offices on the ballot for April 2022 Spring Election: Trustee 1 and Trustee 2
Documents to Submit to Elections Clerk to Run for Local Office:
Campaign Registration Statement
Declaration of Candidacy
Nomination Papers for Nonpartisan Office
Deadline to File for Spring 2022 Ballot: Tuesday, January 4, 2022
To be filed by NOON the Friday before Election Day to be considered a registered write-in candidate:
Campaign Registration Statement
See further information about becoming a registered write-in candidate at the bottom of this webpage.
Important Dates:
- December 1, 2021 – First day nomination papers may be circulated
- December 27, 2021 – Deadline for incumbents not seeking re-election to file Notice of Non-Candidacy
- January 4, 2022 – ALL PAPERS AND FORMS due in Clerk’s Office by 5:00 PM.
- January 7, 2022 – Deadline to challenge nomination papers
- February 15, 2022 Spring Primary (If needed)
- April 1, 2022 – Noon, Deadline to file Campaign Registration Statement to be considered a registered write-in candidate
- April 5, 2022 – Spring Election
File your forms with:
Clerk/Treasurer
Margaret Peroutka
villageoffranciscreek@yahoo.com
Village of Francis Creek
200 Norwood Dr, PO Box 68, Francis Creek, WI 54214
Phone: (608) 682-7410
Fax: (920) 682-3615
Email
Village Office Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Thursday 12:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Necessary Forms Explained:
Campaign Registration Statement
This form should be filed with the Clerk’s Office prior to announcing your candidacy for office, or no later than the deadline for filing nomination papers. New candidates should file a campaign registration statement as soon as intent to seek elective office is known and before funds are collected or spent – see State Statute 11.05(2g) and 11.10(1). Continuing candidates must file an amended campaign registration statement indicating the office sought and the new primary and election dates. The campaign registration statement must be signed by both the candidate and the campaign treasurer, if a treasurer has been appointed. In most instances of our local election, you will be selecting the box in A29, affirming your campaign’s exemption, unless you will be spending more than $2,000 on your campaign.
Declaration of Candidacy
The declaration of candidacy must include the candidate’s name in the form it is to appear on the official ballot. A candidate may use their full legal name or any combination of first name, middle name, initials, or nickname with last name. No abbreviations or titles are permitted.
Nicknames with an apparent electoral purpose or benefit, such as “Lower Taxes,” “None of the Above” or “Lower Spending” are not permitted. A nickname is a substitute for the candidate’s legal name. It is not permissible to add the nickname in quotes or parentheses between the first and last name. For example, John “Jack” Jones is not acceptable, but Jack Jones is acceptable.
Nomination Papers
The first day for circulating nomination papers is December 1, and the deadline for filing nomination papers is 5:00 pm on the first Tuesday in January. This deadline is extended to the first Wednesday in January if the first Tuesday of January is a holiday (§8.10).
Signatures of qualified electors on nomination papers must be obtained between December 1 of the preceding year, and 5:00 pm on January of the election year. Please pay careful attention to the signatures you obtain on your nomination papers. All electors signing your nomination papers must live within the district in which you are running (you can check the district for an address at My Vote Wisconsin). Those signing do not need to be registered voters, but must be eligible to vote. It is to your advantage to check that the addresses on your nomination papers are from the district you are running to represent. Signatures for addresses outside of that district are invalid and will not be counted.
Signers must give their complete address (house number, street and municipality – no Post Office boxes), and must list the municipality of residence. Signers must date their signature, including the year. In order for a signature to be valid, state law requires the signer to legibly print their name in a space provided next to their signature.
Although the person signing the nomination papers must reside within the district, the person circulating the nomination papers does not need to live in the district or municipality. Circulators are only required to be U.S. citizens, age 18 or older on the date of circulation, and not otherwise disqualified as an elector by the provisions in State Statute 6.03.
The circulator must certify the nomination papers after obtaining the signatures. Signatures dated after the date listed by the circulator are invalid and will not be counted. Nomination papers must be numbered. You may determine whether an address is in your district by checking online at My Vote Wisconsin. Signatures for addresses outside of that district are invalid and will not be counted.
Write-In Candidates
To seek office as a write-in candidate:
- Download your campaign registration statement from here or the Wisconsin Elections Commission website at any time.
- File your campaign registration statement with the Clerk’s Office as soon as you decide to become a write-in candidate. Write-in votes are counted at the Spring Primary for candidates who file a campaign registration statement by noon the Friday before the election. Write-in votes are counted at the Spring Election for candidates who file a campaign registration statement by noon the Friday before the election.
- Candidates should educate supporters to write their name on the write-in portion of the ballot, under the proper position.