Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, political parties entitled to primary and general election ballot position are called "ballot status parties." In order to qualify for ballot status, a political party must meet one of the following criteria:
Selecting candidates
Ballot status parties nominate their candidates via primary election.
Maintaining party status
In order to maintain ballot status, one of the party's candidates for any statewide office at the last gubernatorial election must have received at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office. Alternatively, if the last general election was also a presidential election, the party's candidate for president must have won at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office in the state.
- At the last gubernatorial election, one of the party's candidates for any statewide office must have received at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office. In 2010, for example, a total of 2,062,661 votes were cast for treasurer, meaning that a party's candidate for that office would have had to win at least 20,627 in order for the party to attain ballot status. Alternatively, if the last general election was also a presidential election, the party's candidate for president must have won at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast that for that office in the state. In 2012, for example, a total of 3,068,434 votes were cast for president, meaning that a party's candidate for that office would have had to win at least 30,685 votes in order for the party to attain ballot status.
- A political organization that was listed as "independent" at the last general election and whose candidate met the above qualifications can receive ballot status by requesting such status from the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board. The request must include the party's name, which cannot be the same as that of an existing party, and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on April 1 of an election year.
- A political organization may petition for ballot status. The organization must file a petition with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board containing the signatures of at least 10,000 qualified electors, including at least 1,000 from each of at least three separate congressional districts. The petition must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on April 1 of an election year and will entitle the organization to ballot status for the period ending with the general election.
Selecting candidates
Ballot status parties nominate their candidates via primary election.
Maintaining party status
In order to maintain ballot status, one of the party's candidates for any statewide office at the last gubernatorial election must have received at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office. Alternatively, if the last general election was also a presidential election, the party's candidate for president must have won at least 1 percent of the total number of votes cast for that office in the state.
As of May 2017, Wisconsin officially recognized five political parties: the Constitution, Democratic, Libertarian, Republican, and Wisconsin Green parties.
Constitution Party of Wisconsin Link Party platform
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Link Party platform
Republican Party of Wisconsin Link Party platform
Wisconsin Green Party of Wisconsin Link Party platform
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Link Party by-laws
Libertarian Party of Wisconsin Link Party platform
Republican Party of Wisconsin Link Party platform
Wisconsin Green Party of Wisconsin Link Party platform
