ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN

The only other partisan officers chosen are party precinct committeemen
who are elected at September primaries in even-numbered years. Precinct
committeemen cannot be elected by write-in vote. Party precinct com-
mitteemen serve on statutory party committees to fill vacancies in nomi-
nations and may also recommend names of electors to be appointed election
officials by the governing body of each town, village, and city.
Vacancies in the offices of Representatives in Congress, state Senators,
and Assemblymen may be filled by special election only. Vacancies in the
office of U.S. Senator are filled by appointment until they can be filled at
a general election. Vacancies in state constitutional offices and county
offices are filled by appointment except that the Lieutenant Covernor con-
stitutionally succeeds the Governor in case of a vacancy in the office of
Governor (the Secretary of State is third in line of succession). Appoint-
ments to fill vacancies on the state level and for most county offices are
made by the Governor.
Presidential Delegate Election. In each presidential election year, the
political parties select a designated number of delegates to attend their
national party conventions for the purpose of nominating candidates for
President and Vice President. The number of delegates and convention
votes allocated to each state is not determined by state law, but by the
national committee of each party. The allocation of delegates among elec-
tions at large and elections by Congressional district is determined, within
Wisconsin, by each party's state voluntary organization. Sometimes a full
convention vote is given to each elected delegate and sometimes a half vote
to each elected delegate. This manner of splitting the convention vote per-
mits greater recognition among the party voters.
Any interested candidate for the office of President may certify to the
Secretary of State a full slate of delegates whose names are printed on the
ballots in the same column and under the name of the presidential candidate
supported. The law still permits, however, the election of individual "un-
instructed" delegates.
A vote for a presidential candidate is a vote for each of his dele-
gates and the candidate receiving the most votes in each party on a state-
wide basis is entitled to all the delegates at large. The canvass of the
party vote cast in each Congressional district determines which candi-
date is entitled to the district delegates. Thus, while one candidate re-
ceives the support of all the delegates at large, it is possible for the
district delegates to be split among 2 or more presidential candidates.
The delegates selected to attend the national convention of each
political party are sworn to support their candidates (unless released by
him) on the first ballot and on each succeeding ballot unless the votes for
the pledged candidate drop below 10 per cent of the total vote cast or two-
thirds of the delegates vote to release themselves. Thereafter, the dele-
gates may support any other candidates of their choice.
Nonpartisan Elections. Nonpartisan elections are held on the first Tues-
day of April for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, judicial
officers, executive officer in Milwaukee County, and town, village, and
city officers. The terms of office vary, so only certain offices are voted
on each year. The only nonpartisan offices voted for on a state-wide
basis are State Superintendent and Justice of the Supreme Court; all others
are elected from the county, district, or municipality represented. In
addition to the Supreme Court, consisting of 7 Justices, there are 26
judicial circuits, some of which elect more than one circuit judge. Except

177