Wis. Stat. § 11.0202 — WI Code / Chapter 11 / Section 11.0202
Registration; timing; candidate committee required.
Status: in_force

(1) Time of registration.

(a) Each candidate, through his or her candidate committee, shall file a registration statement with the commission giving the information required under s. 11.0203 as soon as practicable after the individual qualifies as a candidate under s. 11.0101 (1) .

(b) A candidate who receives no contributions, makes no disbursements, and incurs no obligations shall file the registration statement as provided in this subsection, but need not designate a campaign depository account until the first contribution is received, disbursement is made, or obligation is incurred.

(2) Candidate committee required.

(a) Except as provided in par. (b) , no candidate may make or accept contributions, make disbursements, or incur obligations except through a candidate committee registered under this subchapter.

(b) A candidate does not violate this subsection by taking any of the following actions:

1. Accepting a contribution, making a disbursement, or incurring an obligation in the amount required to rent a postal box, or in the minimum amount required by a bank or trust company to open a checking account, prior to the time of registration, if the disbursement is properly reported on the first report submitted under s. 11.0204 after the date that the candidate committee is registered, whenever a reporting requirement applies to the candidate committee.

2. Accepting a contribution, making a disbursement, or incurring an obligation required for the production of nomination papers.

(c) Except as provided in par. (d) , no candidate may establish more than one candidate committee.

(d)

1. An individual who holds a state or local elective office and who becomes a candidate for a different state or local elective office may establish a 2nd candidate committee under this subchapter for the purpose of pursuing that different state or local office.

2. If the individual described under subd. 1. wins the election for which the individual created the 2nd candidate committee, and the individual is not eligible to continue to hold the first office, the individual shall terminate the first candidate committee as provided under s. 11.0105 no later than 180 days after the date the individual is sworn into the office for which the 2nd candidate committee was created. Residual funds of the first committee may be transferred as provided in s. 11.1114 or used or disposed of in any manner allowed by law.

3. If the individual described under subd. 1. wins the election for which the individual created the 2nd candidate committee, but the individual is still eligible to hold the first office, the individual shall maintain a committee for each office until such time as the individual resigns from, or a successor is sworn in to, the office. If the individual subsequently resigns from either office, or a successor is sworn into either office, the individual shall terminate the candidate committee for which the individual no longer holds office as provided under s. 11.0105 no later than 180 days after the date the individual resigns or a successor is sworn in. Residual funds of the terminated committee may be transferred as provided in s. 11.1114 or used or disposed of in any manner allowed by law.

4. If the individual described under subd. 1. loses the election for which the individual created the 2nd candidate committee, the individual shall terminate the 2nd candidate committee as provided in s. 11.0105 no later than 180 days after the date the winner of that election takes office. Residual funds of the 2nd committee may be transferred as provided in s. 11.1114 or used or disposed of in any manner allowed by law.

History: 2015 a. 117 ; 2023 a. 120 , 126 ; 2025 a. 7 s. 2 .